You may have aspirations to reach the highest rung of the ladder in your career after joining a healthcare facility as a Graduate Professional Nurse and you may believe that the main qualities required for success in nursing professional are clinical expertise, management skills and leadership. However, it is equally important not to forget about professional etiquette, as you cannot succeed in this career without proper etiquette.Nursing is an occupation that is characterized by professional relationships between different people in different settings. The following seven tips on professional etiquette will help you strengthen communication skills and let you build a strong relationship with the colleagues, superiors, other healthcare providers and patients along with their family members.
Professional Etiquette Tips for New Grad Nurses
Self-Introduction
In this profession, you need to be prepared for introducing yourself instead of waiting for the other person to ask about you even if you are a Grad Nurse. Subsequently, confidently introduce yourself to your colleagues by putting out your hand for a handshake and by saying your name. For introducing a colleague to others follow these etiquette rules.
- Mention the name of the person whom you are introducing a co-worker to
- Mention the name of the person who is being introduced and say a few words regarding him/her
- Say a few words regarding the first person
It is important to include people during the introduction. However, it is important to mention the name of the superior at first if you introduce a colleague to a higher-ranking person within an organization.
Respect Others
It is important to remain courteous and polite to the co-workers, superiors and visitors irrespective of the circumstances. It is important to pay respect to others and to make others feel valued to contribute to team building and for better communication. It is important not to act like a know-it-all or like a subservient flatterer. If you want to earn respect or show respect to others, then it is prudent to remain polite and honest alongside asking the right questions.
Have a Confident Handshake
It is equally important to have a firm handshake when introducing yourself, as it reflects the level of confidence. However, it is important not to press the hand of another person in order to show firmness. It is essential to stand up and straight, maintain eye contact and lean forward when shaking hands. It is prudent to put a soft smile on your face at this time. If you know about the cultural preferences or sensitivities of another person when shaking hands, then it is important to pay respect to those preferences or sensitivities.
Stay on Track during Conversations
It is important to stay on a topic during a conversation, as you may unknowingly offend someone due to talking about anything irrelevant to the topic of discussion. It is prudent to avoid controversial or disputable issues, such as politics or religion. It is important to remember the following points when talking to a patient or patient’s family members.
- Remember your role as a caregiver when talking to a patient or patient’s family members
- Avoid discussing your personal problems
You may remember the
OAR theory if you have difficulty starting a conversation.
- O – Observe
- A – Ask questions
- R – Reveal something about yourself that is not extremely personal
Focus on Body Language
It is important to remember that a person communicates via words, look in his/her eyes and his/her body language. Hence, it is prudent to be careful about the body-language. The following tips on ‘body language’ may help you show that you are a confident and positive person.
- Hold your chin up and stand tall whilst holding your shoulders back
- Avoid slouching
- Keep your hands out of the pockets
- Avoid putting your hands on the hips
- Avoid crossing your arms over the chest
- Put on a sincere smile to convey friendliness and warmth
- Maintain eye contact when talking to someone in order to show interest in the topic
Create & Maintain Positive Work Environment
It is important to be kind and considerate alongside having common sense when talking to someone at work. It enables you to create a positive environment and to maintain camaraderie. The following tips may help you create and maintain a positive ambience at work.
- Greeting colleagues with a smile
- Saying ‘hello’ when arriving at work or saying ‘good-bye’ when leaving the work
- Assist others
- Say ‘thank you’ after receiving help from others
- Use polite language and have good manners
- Avoid complaining with co-workers or listening to gossip
- Participate in departmental events to prove yourself as a part of the team
It is important not to be
disruptive and create conflicts at work and to prevent others from carrying out their responsibilities. For example, it is important to avoid –
- Impolite language
- Disrespectful behaviour
- Rage
- Criticizing others
- Throwing objects
- Using belittling comments
Additional Read
Preparing for Life as a New Grad Nurse [Important Career Tips for New Grads]Professional Nursing Attire
If you want to be regarded as an intelligent, professional and competent nurse, then the attire must reflect these qualities.
- Ensure that the uniform (lab-coat, nurse’s scrub, skirt and shirt) is clean
- Wear a dress that properly fits your body (neither too tight nor too loose)
- Pay attention to the length of the skirt
- Wear clean shoes
- Ensure your name tag is visible
- Keep your hair tied or wear a headband
If you wear clean clothes and footwear, then it reflects your attentiveness towards hygiene and wellness. On the other hand, if you wear formal attire, then it makes you look like a professional.
