In describing two nurses in terms of their personality styles and traits, Smith has

touched on two of five traits psychologists identify as primary aspects of personality.

They’re called the Big Five, and the acronym OCEAN is helpful in remembering them.
The first is openness.

Openness is the willingness to try new things or new ways of doing things, and it’s
related to creativity and achievement. April is willing to try a different way to change
Smith’s dressing. She is creative in approaching the issue and involving the patient in
his care. Being open to experience involves independence and imagination. Carmella
goes by the book. She always does the dressing the same way, even though the patient
may have a better idea, and she is insecure about modifying what she has been taught.

The second of the Big Five traits is Conscientiousness. This is a very important factor
in nursing. Conscientiousness is related to better job performance, achievement, and
quality relationships. By planning ahead, having an encouraging demeanor, and
listening to and working with Smith, April shows a high level of conscientiousness.
Carmella, on the other hand, is disorganized and often forgets needed supplies, which
prolongs the procedure and the patient’s discomfort. She also complains and rushes
through procedures, causing additional pain.
Extroversion is No. 3. April likes people, likes her job, and looks forward to changing
Smith’s dressing as a time to socialize with him. She feels affection toward her patients
and recognizes she is making a difference in their lives. Fun-loving, she enjoys off-work
hours with her friends. Carmella dreads changing the dressing. She is afraid of doing it
wrong, is not comfortable talking with people, and has a somber outlook, rarely offering
encouragement. Off-duty, she is an introvert who prefers being alone and solitary
activities.
Agreeableness, the fourth trait, involves trusting, being helpful, and being concerned
about the feelings of others. April views Smith positively and is amenable to changing
the dressing his way. Smith’s suggestion makes Carmella anxious because it deviates
from the way she was taught. She’s afraid he’ll report her if something goes wrong.
Lack of trust prompts her, at times, to refuse his requests and insist she knows better.
The last trait, Neuroticism, has to do with emotional stability or lack thereof. April is
calm and has high self-efficacy. Aware of her strengths and limitations, she feels good
about her nursing ability and is not afraid to ask for help when needed. Carmella is
anxious both at home and at work, is prone to negative cognitions about herself and
others, and wonders if nursing is the right career for her. She is depressed but, because
of her introversion, other nurses don’t notice. This is unfortunate because depression is
a state that can change. While personality traits are generally enduring and fixed,
circumstances can affect our personalities. If Carmella wasn’t depressed, she might be
more social, open, and agreeable.
Examine your nursing personality. Are you more like April or Carmella?
We can be stronger in some areas and weaker in others. If you find yourself weak in
certain areas of the Big Five, remember: You can change. Carmella could undergo
cognitive therapy and learn to change the negative thought processes that create her
anxiety. Or, psychodynamic therapy could help her understand herself better and
become more trusting, open, and agreeable.
The Big Five are a lens with which to view major personality types, but the amazing
personality differences among nurses also account, in part, for why nursing is such an
interesting profession. Understanding your personality style can help you use your
uniqueness to improve your life and the lives of your patients. RNL
Michael C. LaFerney, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, is a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist
at Arbour SeniorCare in Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA.

5 Personality Traits of Emergency Room Nurses

Emergency nurses treat individuals who experience injuries or other trauma in

emergency situations. They may work in ambulances, helicopters or hospital
emergency rooms. Emergency room nursing is a specialty that involves caring for
patients of all ages and health problems under busy and noisy conditions. Due to this, it
takes special personality traits to be an emergency room nurse and retain the job while
enjoying it, according to the Emergency Nurses Association.
1. Can Accelerate Pace as Needed
An emergency room is not always hectic, but the nurses need to be able to crank up
their speed when the situation requires it. This involves more than just moving quickly.
Emergency room nurses have to be able to think and make decisions quickly in life-or-
death situations, because even a fraction of a second makes a difference. This also
requires them to be able to look at the current state of a patient and assess what the
patient needs or doesn’t need accurately. Treatment must come naturally to them so
that they do not need to stop to think about what needs to be done.
2. Remain Calm Amidst Chaos
Chaos can hit an emergency room during holidays or just if there is a big accident in the
area, such as a multi-vehicle collision or construction-related incident. The nurses must
be able to remain calm during chaotic periods because the conditions of the patients
may be very serious. Some patients may be in a state of panic, but emergency room
nurses must remain cool-headed so that the patients do not panic even more.
Remaining cool and collected could help the patient calm down, which allows the
nurses and doctors to do their jobs better.
3. Multitask
Emergency room nurses must be organized and able to balance several patients at one
time. In some cases, a single nurse will take care of 10 to 20 patients simultaneously.
They cannot mix up the patients’ conditions and required treatments, so organization
and multitasking is a must. This also requires time-management skills because the
nurse cannot leave some of the patients feeling neglected. Additionally, certain patients
may need priority treatment over others even if they entered the emergency room first,
and a good nurse can prioritize the varying levels of patient need.
4. Agreeable, Extroverted and Open
According to a 2014 survey by researchers at The University of Sydney, agreeableness,
extroversion and openness are characteristics that stand out among emergency room
nurses compared to the general public. They need the ability to communicate with
patients in an honest and direct manner while remaining friendly and sociable. They
must also be unbiased so that they look at each patient’s condition objectively.
Emergency room nurses require a certain level of social confidence as well and must be
able to adapt to change easily and quickly, whether there is a new policy or a critical
situation with a patient’s health status that requires immediate attention.
5. Good Coping Skills
Traumatic cases are a likelihood in emergency rooms, so nurses in this department
cannot be emotional or linger over patient deaths. If a patient does not survive because
the illness or injuries were too serious, the assigned nurse cannot allow the death to
have an impact on the care of other patients. Emergency room nurses must remain
clear-headed and be able to cope with whatever happens or is happening with patients.
This also includes dealing with patients who are cursing, screaming, spitting or yelling.
The nurses cannot take that behavior personally and allow it to hurt their feelings.

Emergency room nurses have to care for a range of patients of different cultural and
socioeconomic backgrounds who have varying physical, psychological and social health
issues. Having certain personality traits allows them to provide quality treatment and
remain cool under pressure.