Nursing is a complex career that requires an array of capabilities. Each day presents new challenges, unique patients and dire situations. Nurses must have highly developed critical thinking skills and obsessive attention to detail while also being able to provide emotional support to patients and their families. They can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, community health centers, schools and shelters.
Minority Nurse author Julia Quinn-Szcesuil says the most successful nurses are excellent multitaskers and have empathy for those in their care. “No one can say nursing is a stagnant profession,” she says. “Even freshly minted grads can feel they are scrambling to keep up with new procedures, technologies, treatments, and processes. If you’re a nurse, you might start to wonder what skills you will need to succeed and stay current in the coming years.”
She says the following attributes will ensure you’re the best nurse for your patients:
- Critical reasoning
- Tech savvy
- Effective communication
- Ongoing commitment to learning
- A network of mentors
The University of South Carolina Aiken offers a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing online degree program (RN to BSN) for those ready to further their careers, welcome a new range of responsibilities and develop the qualities that will make them valuable members of the healthcare workforce. The program is 100 percent online, so you can attend classes anywhere with an internet connection, at any time. The faculty is experienced, accomplished and ready to help you become a stellar nurse.
Meet the Teachers
Carolyn Sue-Ling teaches the online course Gerontological Nursing. She believes the best way to begin a career in nursing is to be enveloped in a dynamic teaching environment. Carolyn is an advocate for lifelong learning to maintain expertise and deliver top-notch healthcare. She says the most successful nurses use their knowledge and experience involving “leadership, ethics, research, evidence-based practice, and collaboration” to provide cutting-edge care for each patient.
Dr. Thayer McGahee has worked primarily in child health and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses for 20 years. She is now the dean at USC Aiken’s nursing school and also teaches the Pathophysiology course online. Thayer credits critical thinking, excellent clinical skills and the ability to appreciate every patient as three top qualities of a successful nurse.
“Successful nurses are those who treat each patient with respect, who treat all colleagues with respect, and who strive to continue to learn and make a positive difference,” she says.
Associate professor Dr. Joyce Pompey teaches Nursing Care of the Client with Complex Health Needs online. She has taught at USC Aiken for 25 years. Dr. Pompey stresses to her students that compassion and problem-solving lead to success.
“In nursing, you meet patients from all different backgrounds who are at different stages in their lives and who may have a multitude of healthcare issues. You can impact their lives when they are most vulnerable,” she says. “Critical thinking skills are also very important. Individuals are unique, so questioning and reasoning are invaluable when striving for excellence in healthcare.”
If you want to make a difference in healthcare and have a passion for helping people, consider enrolling in USC Aiken’s online RN to BSN program. You can graduate in as few as 12 months and pursue a successful, fulfilling career in nursing.
Learn more about the University of South Carolina Aiken’s online RN to BSN program.
Sources:
Minority Nurse: Skills for Success: What Every New Nurse Needs
USC Aiken: Online RN to BSN Program – Courses
Medical News Today: What Can I Expect From a Nursing Career?
