Nurses are the backbone of the Patient Care industry. They work at the frontline of the healthcare system to provide the best possible care and support to patients and ensure their well-being.
As a nurse, you often have to wear many hats and undertake various roles and responsibilities. In addition to providing direct patient care, you also have to act as their advocate, educate families on patient care, administer medications, and coordinate with the healthcare staff to perform routine administrative tasks.
The multifaceted nature of your job requires you to master a diverse set of skills to improve patient care. Moreover, you need to adapt to the ever-changing demands of your job and face unique challenges in delivering the best care possible.
To help you achieve your goals, we have compiled a list of eight practical tips that will improve your patient care abilities. Scroll down to discover the most effective ways to improve patient care and become a competent and successful nurse.
Advance Your Education
The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, with new patient care techniques and methods introduced every day. To stay relevant in your field and improve the quality of patient care, you must stay abreast with the latest research and advancements in medical science and technology.
Advancing your education in nursing will help you gain the right knowledge and skills beyond your initial education to improve patient care. If you’re a registered nurse, you can pursue advanced degrees such as BSN and MSN or enroll in certifications and specialized training courses.
Considering the demanding nature of your job, you can opt for a master of science in nursing online program instead of on-campus degree courses. This fast-track online degree program provides a profound understanding of the healthcare system and the latest policies and practices in patient care. On top of that, you have the flexibility and convenience of studying at your own pace and continuing your education without disturbing your work-life balance.
Nurses with advanced degrees like MSN are better prepared to implement best practices in patient care, assume leadership roles, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
In today’s digital age, technology sits at the core of the healthcare industry. To provide quality patient care, you must be well-versed with the rapidly changing technology in medical science and its use in healthcare systems.
As a nurse, you can use technology to your advantage by learning how to operate smart patient wearables and smart beds and using electronic health records (EHR), library information systems (LIS), telehealth, collaborative hospital management systems (HMS), and other digital tools used in healthcare settings. These tools and technologies reduce the risk of errors in medication administration and patient information. Consequently, you can not only improve your productivity and accuracy but also improve the overall quality of patient care.
Leverage Evidence-Based Practice
The onset of the recent pandemic has highlighted the importance of evidence-based practices in making decisions regarding patient care. Evidence-based practices are supported by rigorous latest research and have been proven to improve patient outcomes even in the most uncertain conditions.
You can implement evidence-based practices by staying up-to-date with the latest research in medical science and healthcare guidelines issued by renowned global healthcare organizations. When you apply this knowledge to your nursing practice, you can make informed decisions on improving healthcare and ensure the efficacy of these practices under unusual circumstances.
Focus on Patient-Centered Care
Ever since the idea of placing the patient at the center of their care evolved in the 1950s, hospitals have recognized the importance of prioritizing patients’ needs, preferences, and values and providing care tailored to their specific needs. Patient-centered care has been found to boost overall patient satisfaction, decrease hospital readmissions, and increase patient safety.
Today, more hospitals are integrating patient-centered care to enhance the quality of treatment and patient outcomes and to meet regulatory and accrediting criteria. As a nurse, you should consider your patient’s needs and preferences and develop an individualized patient-care plan to meet their care needs. You can develop a comprehensive patient-centered care plan by asking direct questions, listening to any concerns of your patients and their families, and involving them in the decision-making process regarding their care. This way, you are more likely to increase patient satisfaction which can directly translate into better patient outcomes and speedy recovery.
Prioritize Patient Safety
Nurses place a high value on patient safety as it is directly related to patient outcomes and quality of care. As a nurse, you must emphasize safety by:
- Adhering to protocols and safety standards
- Double-checking prescriptions
- Ensuring timely and proper medication administration
- Preventing falls
- Minimizing the likelihood of infections
You should also urge patients to speak out if they are unhappy with their treatment. Nurses can prevent mistakes and provide the best possible care to patients by putting safety first.
Practice Self-Care
Nursing is a highly-demanding career. Spending long shifts hours and consistently being on your toes to provide healthcare and coordinating with other departments and healthcare professionals for tests, medication administration, and medical procedures.
You may feel frequent burnout if you don’t take care of yourself, which can severely affect the quality of patient care. This is why you should prioritize self-care by taking breaks, eating nutritious food, regulating sleep-wake cycles, and participating in activities you enjoy. These simple yet effective self-care practices can significantly increase your productivity at work, boost self-confidence, and consequently improve patient care.
Cultivate Empathy and Compassion
Empathy and compassion are essential characteristics of a nurse. Being a nurse, you should be able to understand and share the feelings of your patients and their families. They should respond to patients’ emotions, needs, and concerns. To cultivate empathy and compassion, you should put yourself in the patient’s shoes, develop active learning skills, and show sympathy.
When nurses demonstrate empathy and compassion, patients feel seen and heard. This helps build trust and rapport, improve patient satisfaction, and promote patient recovery. Compassionate care benefits patients and enhances the image of nursing as a profession that values and prioritizes patient-centered care.
Develop Strong Communication Skills
Nurses must have excellent communication skills to provide quality healthcare. Nurses must be able to communicate effectively and clearly with patients, families, and other healthcare providers. This includes using basic, plain language that patients can comprehend, carefully listening, and paying attention to nonverbal signs. Effective communication promotes trust and confidence, which leads to improved patient outcomes.
Bottom Line
Nursing is a demanding profession that requires you to work closely with patients and families. To provide the best possible care to patients, you must stay up-to-date with the latest patient care techniques and develop essential skills. With the above tips and suggestions, you can empower yourself to provide high-quality care to patients and reinforce your role as an important member of the healthcare team.
