David Haselwood | Top 10 Qualities of a Great Health Care Professional

Those who succeed in health care and gain the most fulfillment from it will start their careers with certain qualities. Do you have what it takes to be a great health care professional?

1. Communication Skills

A great health care professional has excellent communication skills that include speaking and listening. They are able to follow directions without problem and can easily communicate with patients and families to understand their needs and explain treatments.

2. Emotional Stability

A great health care professional is very stable emotionally. Health care can be a stressful career and professionals can encounter many traumatic situations, suffering, and death. A great health care worker is one who is able to work without allowing the stress to cause great personal harm.

3. Empathy

Great health care professionals have empathy for the pain and suffering of patients. They are able to feel compassion and provide comfort.

4. Flexibility

A great health care professional is flexible with regards to working hours and responsibilities. They are often required to work long periods of overtime, holidays, late or overnight shifts, and weekends.

5. Good Attention to Detail

A great health care professional understands that every step in the medical field is one that can have far-reaching consequences. Therefore, they pay excellent attention to detail and is careful not to skip steps or make errors.

6. Interpersonal Skills

A great health care professional has excellent interpersonal skills and works well in a variety of situations with different people. They work well with other nurses, doctors, and other members of a staff.

7. Physical Endurance

A great health care professional has strong physical endurance and is able to tolerate standing for long periods of time, lifting heavy objects (or people), and performing a number of taxing maneuvers on a daily basis.

8. Problem Solving Skills

A great health care professional can think quickly and address problems as — or before — they arise.

9. Quick Response

A great health care professional can respond quickly to emergencies and other situations that arise. Quite often, health care work is simply the response to sudden incidences, and professionals must always be prepared.

10. Respect

Great health care professionals respect people and rules. They are mindful of confidentiality requirements and different cultures and traditions. And they respect the wishes of the patient.