Nurses have a hard time developing confidence. Over time, it could prove to be a big setback. As a nurse, you need to understand that self-doubt about your skills can dent your regular productivity and become a growth impediment.
Fortunately, confidence is a trait that can be acquired. Many nurses who appear to be self-assured today did not start out that way. They boosted their confidence along the way by leveraging the following proven strategies:
Choose A Mentor
The importance of mentors can not be overstated, especially in healthcare. Mentors act as a sounding board when you are feeling down. Besides, they are also a reliable source of getting new ideas. In case you do not have a mentor, building solid relationships with managers, supervisors, and seasoned nurses can be a fantastic resource for learning and support. Having someone on your side might boost your self-esteem and enable you to make better choices.
Compliment Others
Praise gives everything around you a positive spin. You can engage in this activity in numerous ways. For example, compliment a coworker on how they handled a difficult phone call or dealt with a patient who refused to take medications on time. That way, you can reassure the importance of nursing to your coworkers and why it is a worthwhile job to pursue.
Be Curious
Nothing can destroy your self-confidence like being certain of something, only to discover afterward that you were incorrect. So, always stay curious. Enroll in an online MSN Nursing Education program or some other degree or certification program to stay updated with the latest advancements and techniques.
Also, you should always ask questions if you are unsure about something. Even if you believe your inquiry is dumb, do not hesitate to ask. Remember, if a question pops up in your mind, there is a strong chance someone else has had a similar one, so be sure to ask.
Spend Time With Positive People
Make an effort to surround yourself with positive people and exclude negative people from your life. Indeed, this is easier said than done, more so when some of those Negative Nancys are part of your immediate or extended family. In all likelihood, you may need to have difficult conversations with those who you cannot simply kick to the curb. By strengthening your association with positive individuals who lift you rather than tear you down, you will mark an uptick in your confidence.
Spice Up Your Communication Skills
A healthcare setting usually subscribes to a chaotic environment that requires superior communication from all professionals to produce positive and healthy outcomes. Thus, nurses who fail to communicate confidently lack the ability to respond decisively to emergencies.
If you fall short of communication skills, you can always boost them by implementing these tactics:
- Pay close attention: This is the first step to establishing trust and initiating important discussions. Make sure you do not think about the next question until the speaker has completed their point.
- Keep your emotions under control: It is not uncommon for nurses to be blamed for the wrong reasons. But even if you are furious or outraged, you should keep the conversation professional and courteous. Be conscious of how your emotions may affect your communication capacity and cloud your judgment.
- Stay patient: The exchanges you have with patients or fellow nurses might not always be as engaging. People can sometimes have difficulty communicating their thoughts due to their poor communication skills. As a result, you will need to be more patient and give them time to express themselves.
Be Aware Of Your Vulnerabilities
For nurses, the quality of making the right judgment heavily hinges on recognizing their strengths and weaknesses. You may not feel confident when you first admit that you need help or you cannot see a way out of a dilemma. However, knowing when to ask for support demonstrates your commitment to the health and safety of your patients.
Hence, make it a point to utilize all the resources at your disposal, including lab, case management, pharmacy, and so on. Knowing when you require assistance is a sign of self-assurance.
Adopt Technology
Telehealth has evolved as a game-changing innovation. Statistically speaking, millions of nurses throughout the world use telehealth solutions and platforms to provide high-quality care to patients. Modern-day nurses must learn to work with electronic health data, wearable medical equipment, and advanced technology such as artificial intelligence.
Nurses are not typically expected to be tech-savvy, making the transition to digital breakthroughs a difficult task. With that said, learning a tech-savvy skill will aid in overcoming this obstacle and enhance their confidence big time.
Conclusion
Nurses are at the forefront of the healthcare industry. They fight overwhelming spells of professional stress to provide high-quality clinical care, allowing patients to recover quickly. Despite their enormous contributions to modern-day healthcare, nurses keep up with low self-esteem. Anxious patients and dissatisfied caregivers constantly put pressure on nurses. But the good news is that you do not have to live it. By following the tight line of the measures listed above, you can gather a lot of confidence.
