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Approved and verified accurate by the Assistant Vice President of GCU Marketing on July 21, 2025.
09/16/2019
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Nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system. They are often the first and last providers a patient will see and the ones patients spend the most time with. Nurses are patient educators, advocates and caregivers, providing both medical treatments and a sympathetic ear.
It takes specialized education and training to become a nurse. It also takes certain personal qualities to be an effective nurse, including empathy and compassion. These important qualities of a nurse not only help registered nurses (RNs) connect better to their patients but also work more effectively as part of a healthcare team that maintains a positive workplace culture.
Nurses need a varied skill set of both hard and soft skills. They are clinicians who must always prioritize their patients’ safety and welfare above all, adhering strictly to the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses.1 They must ensure that patients’ privacy and right to informed consent are upheld.
In addition to performing clinical tasks like patient assessments and intravenous (IV) placements, nurses must be able to apply soft skills like emotional intelligence and communication when working with patients. Nurses who are effective at their jobs are also able to function well as part of the healthcare team, working well with people from a range of backgrounds and with all different types of personalities.
In short, there are high expectations for nurses. The traits of a good nurse, however, can help RNs work effectively in their role.
There is a long list of nurse characteristics that are helpful. Some of them are more useful in certain healthcare settings than others.
While certain characteristics can be more important in some nursing specialties than in others, there are many nursing strengths that can be generally applicable to every type of RN.
One of the qualities of good nurses is a willingness to put in the hard work it takes to meet their goals, making being a hardworking RN one of the most desirable traits.1 At times, lengthy shifts spent on one’s feet make this career physically demanding. Yet, fueled by their passion and desire to help others, exceptional nurses put in the necessary effort.
In addition, they exert the energy required to ensure that their patients are comfortable and that their needs are met. Often, a nurse will lend a hand to a fellow RN to assist with their patient caseload. Ultimately, nurses may find that they value the job satisfaction that rewards their commitment.2
Nurses must possess extensive knowledge to care effectively for their patients. For example, they must have an in-depth understanding of patient care techniques, emergency interventions, patient transport techniques and more.3
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program teaches future nurses about nursing concepts and how to apply those concepts to patient care situations. Future nurses will explore everything from wound care to pharmacology. Yet, a nurse’s education is never truly finished. As nursing research and healthcare technology continue to evolve, nurses must continuously seek to add to their body of knowledge.
Nursing is a professional career that requires specific medical knowledge. It also requires nurses to be lifelong learners. The healthcare field changes rapidly and new protocols are constantly being implemented for patient health and safety. Nurses are taught the basics during their degree programs, but they continue to learn while on the job.1
Continuing education is crucial for RNs.1 Nurses can pursue additional academic credentials by entering an RN to BSN program. They can work toward positioning themselves to potentially become advanced practitioners and nurse leaders by earning a Master of Science in Nursing. Further, nurses can attend specialized classes and certification programs with the goal of growing their knowledge in specific nursing specialties.
Another essential quality of a nurse is strong communication skills.3 In the workplace, nurses must be able to communicate clearly with their coworkers and with patients and their families. They must be able to take instructions from coworkers and supervisors, especially in high-pressure situations.
The ability to receive information effectively and efficiently is essential for nurses. They must be able to read charts and understand a treatment plan. After they collect data about a patient’s vital signs, they must record that information accurately in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR).
Proactive communication with patients and families can set effective nurses apart from their peers. In stressful medical situations, patients may feel anxiety because of a lack of information – they want to know what is going on. Given clear, reliable information about test results, diagnoses and treatment plans, patients and their families can make informed decisions about what steps to take toward healing.
Effective nurses bring a positive mindset to their job. They can see the bright side of situations and encourage their patients who are on the road to recovery. While this career may be emotionally challenging at times, outstanding nurses know how to remain positive and focus on serving others. Further, nurses who have a positive attitude can act as leaders in their practice, inspiring optimism in others as well.4
One of the most important qualities of a nurse is compassion.3 In their career, nurses will see patients suffer. Beyond simply offering a solution, they must be able to express compassion for patients and their families. This allows them to form meaningful relationships with their patients and to help patients feel seen, heard and understood.
Along with compassion, nurses must be empathetic and try to understand things from their patients’ points of view.3 Empathy can be shown to patients in many ways.
Nurses can listen to patient concerns without interrupting or questioning what patients think might be causing their illness. For some, empathy can be as simple as being told what to expect during a treatment process. Another way to develop empathy for patients is by imagining what you would want if the roles were reversed.
The nursing career requires emotional intelligence.3 Emotional intelligence involves being aware of one’s own emotions and how they drive your behaviors and decisions. It also involves being aware of the emotions of others and how one person’s emotions might influence another person.
Healthcare is an emotionally demanding industry, and each day brings highs and lows. Nurses must be able to manage their responses to difficult situations in order to solve problems and concentrate on their patients’ health and safety.
Another nursing strength is flexibility or adaptability.3 This is important for multiple reasons. Nurses may have to work nights, weekends and holidays. They may be called in on their days off to cover shifts, and unexpected overtime is possible.
Flexibility is also important for patient care. A patient’s condition may suddenly worsen, causing nurses to reprioritize their care tasks quickly and respond to the situation.
RNs must pay close attention to detail. From keeping medical records to developing a care plan, a nurse must avoid making errors at all costs. In this field, mistakes can have severe consequences.1
Nursing requires strong critical thinking skills, which are necessary to put together pieces of information that may seem unrelated and draw rational conclusions. Nurses may have to think quickly under pressure to troubleshoot patient needs. They need to collect all available information, evaluate it and then form an appropriate nursing response.1
A career in nursing can be highly fulfilling and is an excellent choice for those who want to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Aspiring and current nurses can work on cultivating the above nursing strengths in order to better serve the needs of their patients.
GCU offers multiple nursing degree programs to empower individuals who are pursuing a nursing career or who are currently working in healthcare and want to bolster their career qualifications. If you aren’t currently a nurse, apply to the pre-licensure BSN degree. Active nurses, meanwhile, can apply to the RN to BSN program.
Find Your Strength as a Nurse
Nurture the qualities of a good nurse at GCU. Apply to a nursing degree today!
