There are more than five million registered nurses in the United States today. While this may seem like a lot, the field is still growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts over 193,000 job openings will become available to nurses each year, on average, over the next decade. The demand for nurses is high, and is not slowing down. Between advancing technologies, an aging population, and strides in preventative healthcare, employers are seeking skilled registered nurses (RNs) who can make an immediate impact. But they are not willing to hire just anyone.
Employers are looking for nurses that meet certain criteria in terms of their experience, education, and general demeanor. They must have strong technical skillsets, good bedside manners, as well as a number of soft skills that allow them to work well on a medical team. If you are looking to break into nursing and wondering which nursing qualities employers look for most, you are in the right place.
Keep reading to see which qualifications are essential for registered nurses today, and which nursing qualities employers prefer to see among their new hires.
The Must-Have Qualifications of Nurses
There are two, fundamental steps that nurses must take to qualify for a job and practice as an RN. These include a nursing degree from a state-approved nursing school, as well as licensure after completion of their state’s board examination.
• A nursing degree.
In most states today, registered nurses must obtain an associate degree in Nursing (ADN) or bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) prior to applying for a license. In either path, an entry-level nursing program teaches candidates the basic sciences and the fundamental skills needed to provide patient care.
• An RN license.
All states – and therefore all employers – require registered nurses to be licensed today. Nurses can qualify to take their state’s board examination after earning their degree from an approved nursing program. RN licensure is earned after the successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses.
What Else are Employers Looking for in Nurses Today?
• A bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
It is true that an associate degree in Nursing or a bachelor’s in Nursing are great entry points into the nursing field. Either degree can qualify you to earn your RN license and start building your resume as a practicing nurse. However, more employers are expressing a strong preference to hire BSN-educated nurses. According to the latest survey from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), almost 70% of healthcare employers prefer to hire BSN graduates. 25% of healthcare facilities require nurses to hold a BSN degree.
There are many benefits to a BSN education that support this sentiment. The AACN explains, “A significant body of research shows that nurses with baccalaureate-level preparation are linked to better patient outcomes, including lower mortality and failure-to-rescue rates.” They continue, “Healthcare settings nationwide are seeing a difference in nursing practice based on the level of education and are making hiring decisions to enhance the quality of care available to patients.”
This is not to say that nurses can’t succeed with an associate degree. In fact, an associate degree in Nursing is a great foundational education for a fruitful nursing career. Aspiring nurses can earn their ADN and start working in just two to three years’ time. Once established in nursing – gaining experience and building connections – they can go back to school for their BSN degree, in a flexible online and part-time format. (Check out the RN-to-BSN option here.)
• Specializations or certifications in nursing.
While launching a career as a registered nurse is an incredible feat, do not stop there. You can qualify for advancement, or expand your job prospects, by obtaining a certification in a specialized area of nursing. Professional certification underlines a nurse’s technical expertise as well as their dedication to the profession – both of which employers love to see. On top of this, certification is generally synonymous with skillfulness, which is why an overwhelming majority (86%) of nurse managers agreed that they would hire a certified nurse over a non-certified one. Their main reason? According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), it was that “certification proves a nurse has a knowledge base in a given specialty.”
If you are new to nursing and just starting to explore your interests, review our list of possible nursing specialties here.
The Most In-Demand Qualities Employers Look for in Nurses
To be a great nurse, you must possess qualities like compassion, empathy, stamina, and organization. You must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to engage with patients, their families, and your medical team. You must have respect for different cultures and demographics, as you will work with a diversity of patient populations. These are all must-have nursing qualities that cannot be compromised.
On top of these soft skills, you need clinical experience – technical skills that show you can handle the day-to-day tasks of a nurse. Essential nursing skills are those in patient care, CPR, life support, emergency care nursing, case management, pharmacology, and more. Learn about the top technical nursing skills sought after here.
Beyond this, employers are looking for skillful nurses that can add unique value to the profession. As cited by the American Nurses Association, some of the most distinctive, in-demand skills that can make a nursing resume stand out to employers include:
- Ability to speak multiple languages
- Ability to use specialized equipment in healthcare (e.g. dialysis machines)
- Proficiency in industry technology and software programs, including use of electronic medical records (EMRs)
- Leadership and management skills
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Precision, attention-to-detail, and quality assurance knowledge
Internship experiences are another qualification that can set a nursing candidate apart from the rest. Do not hesitate to highlight any hands-on experiences you’ve participated in – and grown from – related to the field that demonstrate your skills in a health care setting.
Other Nice-to-Have Nursing Qualities Employers Look For
In addition to the essential skills that employers value above, there are an array of other qualities that employers look for when hiring new registered nurses to their team. Other nursing qualities that employers express preference for include:
• Flexibility and adaptability.
Employers value nurses who are willing to try new things, break the mold, and adapt to the evolving needs of the healthcare system. If you are flexible in terms of your discipline and specialty, your schedule or your location, you are more likely to attract employers and land a great career.
• Professionalism.
Nurses should always boast professionalism, but this should start even before you land a job. Employers are seeking candidates who are responsive, accountable, and responsible. Employers encourage candidates to follow up with recruiters on their application progress and to behave professionally when responding to emails and calls.
• Motivation and a growth mindset.
The nursing field requires continuous learning and development. Once you land a job, you will still need to keep up on the latest innovations in the industry, whether that’s new research, treatments, immunizations, technologies, or health threats. That said, employers value self-motivated candidates from the start and will prefer those nurses who desire to grow and expand their knowledge over time. As explained by Shawnee Major, an account executive at Fortus Healthcare Resources: “Because we work with dynamic and growing health care organizations, we look for nurses who have a desire to grow in their careers, expand their skills and further their educations.”
Develop the Nursing Qualities Employers are Looking for – Start Your Career at Goodwin.
Goodwin University is a career-focused nursing school in Connecticut, with a number of nursing degree programs that are designed with employers in mind. We partner with healthcare providers throughout the state to ensure our graduates meet the qualifications and qualities that employers desire most. If you are interested in becoming an RN in Connecticut and looking for a flexible way to get started, contact Goodwin at 800-889-3282. You may also visit us online here to request more information.