I think being a Nurse is one of the most rewarding and meaningful careers anyone couldhavebecause you get to help others directly on a daily basis ‚ how many people can say they do that every day? – Chao Shen (AIN, Sydney NSW)

Whether we like to admit it, or not, there are so many things that we can learn from others that live and breathe Nursing every single day! Whether you are currently studying to become a Nurse, have been working in the field for a number of years or are specialising in ICU, Rehabilitation, Oncology or any other discipline, there are always lessons we can learn from the wisdom of others walking a similar career path.

Here are 6 valuable pieces of advice from some of our hard working HCA Nurses and insights about why these lessons are important.

Advice #1: “Make sure Nursing is what you want to do. It’s a real people pleasing job, pleasing patients, pleasing staff and other Nurses. Get thick skinned quickly. Get a strong stomach.” -Letty Heisar. Malvern Nurses Agency. EEN ‚ Victoria

It takes a special type of person to become a Nurse.

On top of the compassion and empathy needed for the job, Nurses require special qualities of patience, flexibility, and most importantly a strong attention to detail.

Great interpersonal skills and the ability to think quickly on your feet will take you far in pursuit of your career goals.

Advice #2: “The day you start working for money is the day you quit Nursing. Nursing is not a job you do for money. As soon as you lose your passion for caring and helping others it’s the day you’re ready to move on.”

Yes, we need to get paid, but we nurse because we have a passion for caring and helping others. It’s what gets us up in the morning and keeps us awake during those long night shifts.

Advice #3: “Never think you know everything and take the time to listen to you patients.” – Alice Vandommele – Critical Care Nurse – Townsville, Queensland

All healthcare professionals can learn a lot by listening to both their colleagues and patients. The Dalai Lama puts this elegantly in his famous words When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.

Great listening skills are an asset worth having in your career.

Advice #4: “If you don’t know something, ask someone. There is no such thing as a stupid question.” -Claire Antley, Scotland/Newcastle NSW, Emergency Nurse

Albert Einstein once said The only stupid question is the one left unasked.

When working with people that are dependent on the knowledge of our healthcare professionals, we can’t afford to leave questions unanswered.

Put the ego aside and feel 100% comfortable asking questions when they need to be asked ‚ and more importantly encourage others to ask you questions as well.

Advice #5: “You are never too old to learn new things!” – Julie Thompson, EN

Learn, learn, and learn! Learn from Nurses, learn from books, learn from patients, and learn by taking courses. It is never too late to learn something new and use what you learn to become a better Nurse.

Advice #6: “It’s so important for Nurses to stay up-to-date with current practices to ensure the patient receives the best treatment.” – Therese Harman (Registered Nurse)

Did we mention it’s important to learn?

The healthcare industry is extremely dynamic, changing each and every year. It is important that you keep up to date with technology, policy and procedural changes all the time.

Looking for a new Nursing opportunity?

Healthcare Australia has Agency and Permanent Nursing roles available all across the country. To find out about our latest roles, register your details below.