Medicine is a significant sector of our world; the year 2020 gave vivid support to this statement. Nursing have a central role in delivering healthcare services. COVID-19 pandemic has brought the nurses to the forefront and given them the badge of frontline soldiers. The world has realized the vitality of nurses and is acknowledging their services.
Nurses wear many caps, but the primary duty is to provide care to the patients. Nurses do not only give physical support, but they are also responsible for the holistic care of patients, including psychological, emotional, and mental health. Despite bearing heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, nurses generally have a pleasant disposition and exhibit positive aura.
The occupation of nursing has gained immense popularity, and more and more students are enrolling in nursing degrees. Students of today’s age are looking for career options, which allow them to serve in the community while earning lucrative salaries.
It is an expansive field, and many subfields come under its umbrella. Many nurses pursue specialized courses while serving in the nursing sector to have advanced academic knowledge and further climb the ladder of success.
The Director of Nursing is one of the highest positions in the occupational field. Junior nurses often inquire about how to become a director of nursing. While the director’s job is challenging and you have to stay vigilant, you may also enjoy enriching experiences.
To direct a group of nursing staff requires a sound set of skills. Here’s a list of traits that help in leading a group of nurses.
Nursing Management Qualification
Holding a nursing management qualification demonstrates that you have the knowledge to be an effective leader. Your highly-developed management skills should show in your daily job performance.
In a nursing management course, you learn business management skills in a health context. In a Master of Nursing Management course for example, students cover topics such as: business and finance for the health manager, leading and managing in health, conflict and dispute resolution, and ethics in health management.
Empathy And Emotional Intelligence
The fundamental duty of a nurse is to show patients the utmost love and care. The natural tendency of offering care to people in need is inherent to some people, but some find it difficult to show empathy to others. However, to achieve success in the field of nursing, emotional intelligence is integral.
A director reaches a higher designation after years of experience. Spending an ample amount of time in the field of nursing may make them desensitized. They become immune to critical health news, and while people around them go through emotional crises, they consider it a regular day and a usual case.
Such an attitude does not suit a nurse, let alone a director. Nurses should practice empathy and feel patients’ pain as their own to perform the job effectively. Although directors may not need to directly deal with patients, their subordinates observe their move and demonstrate the same qualities. If the directors show love and care to the patients, their associates will do the same.
Decision Making
An efficient director has steel nerves and does not crumble under pressure, keeping the organization’s end goal in mind. Directors often find themselves in situations where they have to make instant decisions, and their choices impact many people.
Besides, decision making is not a single time thing, but it is an ongoing process. A strong presence of mind and critical thinking skills help in making difficult decisions. Directors of nurses are responsible for several operations, and they often make decisions on behalf of their group.
Stamina
Nurses never have a dull day in their lives, and every day a new challenging task awaits them. Typically, nurses work for long hours and often have to work overtime. The Director of the nurses’ job is physically taxing and can take a toll on health.
Furthermore, they have to encounter all types of sentiments in their workplace, impacting their emotional and mental health. Vigor and stamina are what keeps them going and stay in their field. Directors have to remain on toes to oversee nurses’ working, and they do not shy away in stepping in to help their training nurses in times of need. Directors of nurses possess good stamina, so they survive under pressure and deliver their tasks effectively.
Communication Skills
Effective communication is vital for success in today’s world, as good verbal and written communication helps every department of life. For leading and supervising a group of nurses, communication skills are essential to receive and send messages without any misunderstanding.
Directors have to convey happy and unpleasant news to their subordinates, and effective communication is crucial to give sensitive information like terminations, refusal of leave, or salary concerns.
Directors have the authority to bring a change in the department. Still, they need approval from higher authorities, and to convince them for funds or change in policies, directors need to have convincing power. Strong interpersonal and intrapersonal communication skills help directors perform their job efficiently.
Leadership
directors’ designation is of a leader, as their responsibility is to supervise a group of nurses. Followers consider leader a role model. If a leader adheres to the organization’s rules, demonstrates punctuality, and manages time effectively, followers will strive to do the same.
As an influential leader, directors use their influence to maximize nurses’ potential. Adaptability, willingness to learn, giving space to subordinates, all qualities are essential for successfully leading a group of people.
Conclusion
Nursing is not just a career, and after spending a considerable amount of time in the field, it becomes a way of life. Nurses embody love and care. The profession is no child’s play as nurses have to stay up-to their game to perform their duties effectively.
Nursing is also one of the prestigious occupations, and people generally hold nurses in high regard. Nursing degree holders secure a job quickly as unlike other professions, nursing does not have seasons and hospitals, and clinics are lookout for professional degree holders round the year.
The Director of nursing is an authoritative designation, yet it comes with heavy responsibilities. All these skills and leadership qualities are the ultimate traits that help a candidate direct a group of nurses.
