Nurses are the primary caregivers of patients. They are the ones who are there in the middle of the night when the patients can’t sleep. Nurses help them to the bathroom when they can’t walk, and they feed them if they are too weak to feed themselves. They dispense medicines and track progress. Nurses provide a shoulder to cry on when the patient needs emotional support.
We all know that a visit to the hospital is never a pleasant experience. It’s made more difficult when a doctor uses medical jargon that neither the patients nor their families understand. But then the nurse enters the conversation, and instantly the patient feels at ease. The nurse can finally explain what is going on because they can take all the complicated medical information and relay it to the patient and their family in a way that is easier to understand. Nurses serve as a bridge between the patients and the healthcare providers and make the whole experience more bearable.
The day-to-day care of a patient is left in the hands of the nurses. So, the importance of well-trained nurses can never be overestimated. Healthcare organizations need to encourage and empower nurses to continuously develop their skills. This will increase positive patient outcomes. A well-trained nurse can quite literally be a lifesaver.
Clinical competencies: the foundation of quality care
At the heart of quality patient care lies a strong foundation of clinical competence. The only way for nurses to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills that it takes to deliver safe and effective healthcare is through years and years of rigorous education and training.
Aspiring nurses can take many different pathways on their journey to becoming fully qualified. One example is the Holy Family University online ABSN program. At the end of this program, a student will walk away as a fully qualified, holistically trained nurse with the necessary clinical skills to practice nursing at a very high standard.
Nurses need to have a strong academic foundation to be able to deliver safe patient care. Through these courses, nurses are educated in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. This encompasses a deep understanding of the human body and how it is affected by different diseases, and how to treat those diseases.
Nurses can specialize in a specific area of medicine, just as doctors can. Nurses are able to specialize in whatever area they want, such as pediatric nursing, critical care nursing, and psychiatric nursing. This will enable them to build an even deeper understanding of those fields of medicine in order to deliver patient care specifically geared toward the medical conditions afflicting those patients.
Nursing training programs also enable nurses to keep up with the day-to-day changes that occur in the medical landscape. This is an absolute necessity for quality patient care. There are advances in all areas of the medical field being made on a daily basis. Staying up-to-date and aware of the newest technologies and treatments goes hand-in-hand with providing the best care possible to those in need. Nursing is a lifelong commitment, and continuous learning and development of skills is simply part of this. Staying informed on the latest research, medical trends, and development of treatment methods allows nurses to implement a set of best practices that will, in the end, benefit the patient.
Why are nurses important?

They have specialized knowledge of diseases, treatments, and technologies
Nurses are a walking encyclopedia of diseases. They know about the treatments and the technologies involved. What does this mean for the diagnosis procedure? Through their training programs, nurses are able to develop their knowledge base. This makes them an indispensable part of the process. They have a ‘bigger picture’ view that a doctor specializing in one area of the disease may not have, thus bringing a different perspective. They are able to track the progression of these diseases in patients. Nurses can also take the data they have collected and create a comprehensive care plan, one tailored to the patient’s specific needs.
They monitor patients and recognize early signs of complications
It is a vital part of patient care to constantly monitor a patient’s progress and determine how they respond to treatment and medications. Nurses play an essential role in this. They are there to take a patient’s vital signs, notice any physical or behavioral changes, and recognize whether the patient is showing any signs of complications. These assessment skills and techniques are crucial to the quality of patient care that a health organization can provide. This, in turn, is all down to the training of the nurses. Trained nurses will possess the skills to recognize the early signs and make the appropriate decisions, whether this is to inform the physician, adjust the treatment or alter the care plan.
They administer medications and treatment as prescribed by physicians
One of the most important elements of nursing is the administration of medication. Nurses have to adhere to certain schedules and doses and be vigilant in monitoring the patients for any side effects from the medicines. This is where training comes in. Nurses are trained in the correct protocols to follow when dispensing medication to patients. An error in dosage or giving a patient a drug that they might be allergic to could have life-threatening consequences. This is a massive responsibility for a nurse; without proper training, it could spell disaster. Nurses are also trained to understand the potential interaction of drugs and to be on the lookout for any potential side effects. This allows them to educate the patient and their family on what to expect, and in turn, has a positive impact on patient outcomes.
Patient advocacy: being the voice of the patient
Other than the clinical skills that a trained nurse brings to the table, there are the people and advocacy skills. Patients can be vulnerable; they can also be confused; or they may simply not be able to properly articulate what it is they want and need. In these cases, the nurses take on the role of advocate. They give a voice to their patients, and this ensures that the patient’s rights and preferences are respected so that they feel heard throughout the whole healthcare process.
It is also a nurse’s responsibility to collaborate with the patient and their family. By communicating clearly and in a respectful manner, they help the patient to understand the treatment necessary. Patients may be unfamiliar with these treatments. They may even be apprehensive. Nurses are able to explain the ins and outs of procedures. This allows the patient to make more informed decisions about their care and take part in their health journey.
Each patient is different. They experience diseases and the consequences of diseases differently. A well-trained nurse is able to recognize this. They know that each patient has different healthcare needs, and this allows them to individualize treatment plans to reflect these differences. Nurses have to be able to assess a patient’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. In this way, patients are given treatment care plans that are tailor-made to their needs, which, in turn, ensures the best care possible.
Patients come from different backgrounds and cultures and have had different experiences. This means that they all have different values, beliefs, and preferences. A nurse must listen to a patient’s personal preferences, desires, and priorities when it comes to their healthcare, and after listening, adjust their treatment plan. A patient’s overall well-being hinges very much on whether they feel heard. They need to feel as though their concerns are always valid, that their opinion matters, and that they are being taken seriously. Trained nurses are able to engage in discussions with patients. This ensures that their priorities are incorporated into their treatment.
An important factor in patient care is the decision-making process. One of the responsibilities of a nurse is to advocate for their patient’s right to make decisions autonomously. Trained nurses are taught to respect their patients’ choices. These choices may differ from their own opinions, but they are trained to put aside their prejudices and biases and support the patient’s right to make their own decisions.
However, making decisions is not easy for a layman. If a patient doesn’t understand the choice, it’s very difficult for them to decide. Trained nurses can ensure that patients have access to understandable information. They serve as counselors on exactly what a patient’s treatment options are, the treatment process, and any risks involved. Trained nurses can answer patients’ questions and address their concerns. This makes them feel more comfortable with the treatment and allows them to make decisions that come from an informed point of view rather than instinct.
Perhaps the most crucial part of a trained nurse’s responsibility of advocacy is to provide a voice to the vulnerable. This group of patients includes the elderly, children, and patients with disabilities. These patients are not always able to speak up for themselves. The nurse is responsible for ensuring that they receive the same treatment and medical care that others get. Nurses must also help these patients fight against any barriers they may encounter during their healthcare. This ensures that every patient under their care is treated the same and receives the same high standard of healthcare.
Holistic care: treating the whole patient
There is an interconnectedness of a patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Trained nurses understand that all of these factors influence the well-being of a patient and that addressing one aspect of a person’s health can affect other areas. Nurses have to be able to provide comprehensive healthcare. They have to consider the patient as a whole and not just focus on one aspect of their well-being. Neglecting any one area may affect the patient’s overall quality of life.
A patient’s emotional and spiritual beliefs impact their treatment. Patients may not want certain treatments. Their beliefs may not allow certain treatments. Therefore, it is crucial that nurses are trained to take these beliefs into consideration when they care for their patients. Nurses must treat the patient respectfully. They have to consider their preferences and develop treatment plans to incorporate them.
During the healthcare process, nurses spend the most time with the patients. They have longer and more consistent interactions with the patients. This allows the nurse to develop a more trusting relationship with the patient and a deeper understanding of what the patient needs. This emotional bond that nurses form with patients is very important for holistic treatment. The bond allows nurses to provide the patient with emotional support – a type of support that is crucial for their treatment and recovery. By spending more time with the patients, nurses are able to listen to their concerns, and then address them with empathy. It creates a sense of collaboration with the patients, making them feel as though the nurse is working with them as part of a team. It creates a sense of partnership. This, in turn, will encourage the patient to take an active role in their healing journey. The patient will be more invested. They will make a greater effort to follow the treatment plan and recommendations of the healthcare providers.
By addressing patients’ concerns with empathy and compassion, nurses can build a rapport with them. This will lead to better patient outcomes. By relating to the patient on an emotional level, they create an environment where the patient feels more comfortable and safer. Patients will be more willing to ask questions, raise their concerns and voice their fears. Nurses also understand that the healthcare process can be a very emotional and frustrating experience for both the patient and their family members. Nurses are trained to handle these situations delicately. They are taught to put the family members’ minds at peace. Patients do not respond well to stress around them. Having family members involved who are worried about the well-being of their loved ones can cause anxiety for the patient. Having a caring and competent nurse involved may put family members’ minds at rest and will reduce any unnecessary stress.
Nurses also understand that different treatment options may severely impact a patient’s quality of life. They can therefore educate the patient on what to expect and prepare them for the consequences of their treatment. They do this by providing education on side effects and the resources to deal with them. Nurses can help patients cope with the challenges associated with their health conditions. Receiving treatment is a difficult process – it is a process that can put a patient’s emotional well-being through turmoil. Nurses are trained to be supportive and non-judgmental and to offer therapeutic interventions when needed.
Trained nurses are a vital lifeline for patients. It goes far beyond just the medicine – the nurse plays the role of caretaker, therapist, emotional crutch, and to those who go through their healing process alone, even family. It is clear that nurses have a massive impact on a patient’s healthcare journey.

So what are the benefits of further training?
Nurses’ training gives them the edge to make this journey as easy as possible for patients. Nurses have to be committed to continuous development. They play such an important role, and the healthcare system is not static. There are daily changes in treatments and technology used in treatments. There are even daily changes in the diseases that patients need treatment for. As the world changes, so do the risks to patient health. Therefore, nurses have to be committed to keeping their training up to date. They need to keep working on their professional development in order to be able to give patients the best care possible.
It is also very important that healthcare organizations understand and acknowledge the role that nurses play in patient care. They have to enable and empower nurses to keep on training. The landscape of medicine would be a vastly different place were it not for the nurses who support and uphold the system. They bring skills and abilities to the table, without which patient care would not be as effective and would not be as positive. They understand better than anyone that they have not treated only a disease, and that a patient is not simply a set of symptoms but a mass of complicated and complex emotions that must be managed.