What it takes to be a nurse

Choosing to become a nurse is a big decision. For many it’s a calling. When you’re caring for others, your life has meaning beyond yourself. But nursing is also a big commitment to make. So, ask yourself if you have what it takes.

Importantly, you need genuine compassion for patients. If that’s something you can bring to the table, you’re already half-way there. But of itself, that’s not enough.

Academic background

Nurses must retain a great deal of knowledge regarding biology, various ailments, medication dosages and more. But it is achievable, a evidenced by the large numbers already in the profession.

In terms of nursing degree entry requirements, you will generally need a A-levels (or equivalent for international students).

For specific information on nursing degree entry requirements, simply head over to Get into nursing, where you will find links to all seven universities in Wales providing nursing degrees.

Arithmetic and attention to detail are also very important. Dosages often must be administered in specific amounts, and you don’t want the decimal point in the wrong place.

But of course, nursing is not just about the scientific background. It’s also about putting those all-important people skills to best use.

Empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence

Above all a nurse has to be a people person. You have to always put the patient’s needs (and those of their families) first. You have to be able to empathise with patents who may be feeling poorly or frustrated.

Your task will be to care for patients without succumbing to pity. If you do, you may find your role emotionally gruelling. This is often what is meant when it’s said that nursing requires resilience.

Fortunately, nursing courses feature working placements. This way, you get hands-on experience as you learn, working with patients at their point of care. This helps to not only remember and use what you’ve already learned, but also to provide an excellent opportunity for reflecting on your practice.

You must reflect on how you handled things and how you made the patient feel. This will inform how you can be better (or even better) going forward. It is through this reflective practice that nurses develop their social and emotional intelligence and resilience.

Excellent communication skills

Communication is a vital skill for a nurse. This includes not only building a rapport with patients, but being able to read a patient’s charts, and to convey matters appropriately to both patients and other medical professionals.

This communication must be emphatic when a patient is in danger, but at the same time also has to be just as precise. Details are important.

Whenever there’s a patient whose well-being is at threat, you will be expected to provide relevant details to anyone who can help (unless it’s confidential).

You may also be expected to provide information, advice, and guidance to patients (and sometimes their family members) on anything from a new diagnosis through to aftercare treatment.

Sharp thinking

A nurse must know what to prioritise when treating a patient and to apply clear thinking to identify potential issues before they become critical. Such problem-solving ability can make all the difference.

Adaptability

Nursing can be considerably varied, handling one type of situation one moment and then adapting to a new situation the next. One day could be nothing like the next.

Furthermore, you aren’t limited to being just one type of nurse. There are four main fields of nursing, namely adult, child, learning disabilities, and mental health. After this you can choose to specialise as a:

Being yourself

Being a nurse does not necessarily mean meeting an impossible ideal. With its values of equality, diversity, and inclusion, the NHS welcomes nursing applicants from all walks of life. NHS Wales is required to make reasonable adjustments for student nurses, wherever there may be a need.

In other words, if you are neurodivergent, or have mental ill-health, dyslexia, or any other such predicament, you can remain encouraged to apply. You will be supported and welcomed.

Here’s what one nurse has said about being a nurse in Wales.

Learning disability nurse Carrie Thomas said “If someone had told me five years ago that I would be a Registered Nurse, I’d have laughed. Never in a million years did I think that I would be offered a place but four years later, I now work as a Staff Nurse at a busy Acute Admissions Unit based in Swansea Bay University Health Board. The role is not without its challenges, however, having a supportive team makes a world of difference…Despite its challenges, being able to implement a range of interventions to help improve the health and wellbeing of the patients makes the job worthwhile.”.

Being a top-quality nurse isn’t so much about whether you tick every conceivable box, but more about being the right kind of person. Someone who cares enough to show initiative and be a self-starter. Someone who can keep on going when the going gets tough. Such personal qualities are just as valuable as knowledge and skill.

If this sounds like you, consider applying to become a nurse, and becoming both the backbone and the front line of our healthcare system.

It’s not just a job, nursing is a career. A rewarding career that can make you feel like you’ve made a real difference for somebody. Or even made a difference for an entire community. It takes a lot to be a nurse, but few careers are just as fulfilling.

To find out more about nursing courses in Wales, head over to Get into nursing.