What are the key characteristics needed to be a nurse?

Open hearted, open minded, with compassion outweighing one's need to judge others. Good critical thinking skills and a hunger for a lifetime of learning and personal growth. The ability to work effectively all alone or as a team player. Good communication skills, especially listening, especially when you don't feel like it. The ability to put other people first without thinking that you have all the answers. And, most important, you've got to be able to respect and honor people when they're at their lowest low, miserable, and vulnerable. Because that's where they're at when you get to meet them.

If you feel you can't live up to this...congratulations! You're honest! And don't worry. You can't get through nursing school without growing dramatically. Once you start your practice, you'll find situations that stretch your key characteristics every single day.

both my sister and my mother are nurses. however, both have very different personalities. but there is one common characteristic which is that they love to help people. this becomes very important especially later on when you begin to get tired and weary, because this will keep you going. it will remind you why you wanted to be a nurse in the first place even though the pay isnt all that great, the hours are long, and the work is demanding physically and mentally.

I have an immense amount of respect for nurses.

Best of Luck.

Depends on type of nurse:

Hospital nurse = take care of sick people all the time

Nursing home nurse = like elderly people and don't mind cleaning up accidents

Children nurse = same as elderly except for children and have to be able to lift 20+ lbs for long periods of time

-tons of empathy. it will get you through the bad days. -open-mindedness because you never know who your patient will be! -an understanding that you are NEVER too important to wipe a butt, no matter what position you hold as a nurse. -thick skin to tolerate nurses who dont care for students/new nurses, and the doctors who think they are gods. -be able to work long hours at a time. you are not gonna leave that shift at exactly 7:00! -emotions, meaning if a nurse is never moved by her patients, i think something is wrong with her/him! time to move on :)

2 years of nursing school

Obsessive & even temperament. And the 2yrs+ of school.

Everything they do is in an environment the insurance agencies are trying to rip off, and they are monitored the whole time.

Courage to be stern and strong when needed and love to be compassionate at all times.