First thing, always treat the patient as your relative, thus, it would be easier for you to give care for a patient. E.g. you would treat your cousin better than you would treat a complete stranger. As a nurse, it is a must that the patient feels at ease when being cared for by a nurse. If you can't do this, then you better think again if this profession is right for you. Always remember that a patient is a person.
Next, before providing patient care, make a mental checklist of the correct order of the procedure, if you're not sure, check for a nurse's handbook or ask a senior nurse, it's always better to ask and accept our shortcomings rather than to let the patient suffer for our mistakes.
Below are some of which would make you a better nurse:
- Maintain confidentiality
- Provide privacy
- Always ask the patient if he/she is comfortable
- Observe the Golden Rules in giving medication e.g. Right Patient, Right Dosage, Right Medication...
- Document every procedure done to the patient; remember, as a nurse, what you did not document, you did not do.
- It is your responsibility to be updated in new procedures/equipments regarding patient care. You can always attend a seminar regarding these procedures.
- Never panic in an emergency situation, as long as you know what you're doing is right, go ahead and do it.
- Always check on a patient, remember that the equipments we use are man-made and there's always a chance that it will malfunction.
- Always use ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) and Maslow's hierarchy of needs when making a nursing care plan, as it is a guideline in setting priority for which we provide for the patients needs.
- Always do handwashing before and after a procedure.
