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B LO G
13 QUALITIES OF A GOOD NURSE:
LEADERSHI P & PERSONAL I TY
CHARACTERI STICS
By Alisha Cornell, DNP, MSN, RN, and Natalie Vaughn, MBA, on February 25, 2020
What Makes Someone a Good Nurse?
As the nation’s largest healthcare profession, registered nurses (RNs) are showing no signs of slowing down—in terms of
projected job growth, influence, and leadership demand. Given the significant projections of RNs’ national and global growth,
understanding the qualities of a good nurse is invaluable to hospitals and health systems aiming to attract and retain the best
nursing talent.
As new nurses are entering the workforce, identifying and encouraging specific nursing qualities will help hospitals and health
systems recognize strong nursing candidates for hire and understand which current nurses on staff would make great leaders.
With an estimated 2.86 million RNs in the U.S., it’s helpful to consider these 13 qualities of a good nurse that will help them be
successful in navigating and thriving in today’s fast paced and everchanging healthcare landscape.
1. Caring
While it may seem like a given, most people assume that all nurses enter the field because “caring” is one of their leading
qualities—but this shouldn’t necessarily be an assumed nursing characteristic. Many nurses who choose the nursing career path
prioritize job security, are interested in using it as a starting point for another career, or have a lack of alternative ideas/options.
But as a nursing quality, caring makes all the difference to patients. A nurse showing a natural tendency to truly care about how
their patients feel (and in turn, how well they perform their job) will have a significant impact on their success in the nursing
field, which makes caring a key indicator of a nurse’s success.
2. Communication Skills
Strong communication skills are critical characteristics of a nurse. A nurse’s role relies on the ability to effectively communicate
with other nurses, physicians, disciplines across other units, patients, and their families.
Without the ability to interpret and convey communication correctly, medical errors are more likely to occur, patients often feel
neglected or misinformed, and the entire unit will feel the impact. By prioritizing and practicing communication skills, nurses
will provide safer care and benefit their patients, their unit, and the entire hospital/health system—not to mention, their long-
term career.
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3. Empathy
B LO G
13 QUALITIES OF A GOOD NURSE:
LEADERSHI P & PERSONAL I TY
CHARACTERI STICS
By Alisha Cornell, DNP, MSN, RN, and Natalie Vaughn, MBA, on February 25, 2020
What Makes Someone a Good Nurse?
As the nation’s largest healthcare profession, registered nurses (RNs) are showing no signs of slowing down—in terms of
projected job growth, influence, and leadership demand. Given the significant projections of RNs’ national and global growth,
understanding the qualities of a good nurse is invaluable to hospitals and health systems aiming to attract and retain the best
nursing talent.
As new nurses are entering the workforce, identifying and encouraging specific nursing qualities will help hospitals and health
systems recognize strong nursing candidates for hire and understand which current nurses on staff would make great leaders.
With an estimated 2.86 million RNs in the U.S., it’s helpful to consider these 13 qualities of a good nurse that will help them be
successful in navigating and thriving in today’s fast paced and everchanging healthcare landscape.
1. Caring
While it may seem like a given, most people assume that all nurses enter the field because “caring” is one of their leading
qualities—but this shouldn’t necessarily be an assumed nursing characteristic. Many nurses who choose the nursing career path
prioritize job security, are interested in using it as a starting point for another career, or have a lack of alternative ideas/options.
But as a nursing quality, caring makes all the difference to patients. A nurse showing a natural tendency to truly care about how
their patients feel (and in turn, how well they perform their job) will have a significant impact on their success in the nursing
field, which makes caring a key indicator of a nurse’s success.
2. Communication Skills
Strong communication skills are critical characteristics of a nurse. A nurse’s role relies on the ability to effectively communicate
with other nurses, physicians, disciplines across other units, patients, and their families.
Without the ability to interpret and convey communication correctly, medical errors are more likely to occur, patients often feel
neglected or misinformed, and the entire unit will feel the impact. By prioritizing and practicing communication skills, nurses
will provide safer care and benefit their patients, their unit, and the entire hospital/health system—not to mention, their long-
term career.
Skip to main content
3. Empathy
