What main skills do you need to become a RN?(nurse)?

Do u need to be strong in math.... i hear biology( i think i can handle that ) but anything to do with hard math ill struggle with...........what other things do you have to be good at ???

math and science will be a must. Compassion should be strong on your list.

You have to be able to sit for long periods of time...while making mega-bucks, and have the ability to be nasty to patients and their families...

anatomy, and communication skills

Math-wise, you need to be able to add/subtract fractions and so simple algebra. You need basic skills for doing dosages. For instance, you have a drug that is 5mg per ml and the doctor prescribes 12 mg, then you need to be able to do the math and know that you need to fill the syringe to 2.4ml.

You need some good science and math skills - Being a good student helps aide you in the class aspect of nursing (liking fractions, and biology)

You need to be good at compassion - not only for the patient but for their family - and you can be very busy at one time
so multitasking is huge and being able to determine what job needs you over the other ones -
A person may be sick and in pain - so being kind to that helps -

1. Be Caring, Concerned & Compassionate. Be Warm & Friendly. Have a Good Heart.

2. Focus, Concentration & Attention to Detail.

3. Patience & Understanding.

4. Be able to Think on your feet and Think outside the box.

5. Academically: Anatomy & Physiology; Organic Chemistry; Biology; Alegebra

6. Have a thick skin. Patients and their families will be demanding, thinking they should always be the center of attention even when you have other priorities. Doctors will be sleep-deprived, behave erratically at times and take out their frustrations on nurses. Hospital administrators only care about the bottom line. The average age of nurses is 47. According to my wife nurses have a reputation for "eating their young" and you will have to accept that many of your co-workers will be going through menopause.

You need to be good at staying on your feet for 12.5hr shifts and then be expected to stay on late for nothing just to finish paperwork.....

You need to be able to be verbally abused by patients and other staff and just put it down to their stress......

You have to put up with red tape and paperpushing, dotting every i and crossing every t or you get your assed kicked.....

You have to put up with bodily fluids of every description, especially on your shoes.......

You have to put up with clicky workplaces where people decide if your face fits or not and if it doesnt they will let you know.......

You have to work hard for 4 years then get poor money......

You have to not make one single mistake in your whole career or else you get hauled over the coals and have to fill in more paperwork and crawl on your hands and knees saying sorry.......

You have to deal with underfunding, not enough equipment, not enough staff, not enough of anything......

You have to deal with managers who know nothing about what it is really like to nurse, and who cant understand that by giving you more and more paperwork to do, and audits, and extra forms to fill in, they are taking you away from your patients.......

You are expected to be responsible in part for the conduct of doctors, i.e if they prescribe something and you give it and its wrong, you get kicked in the ***.........

But apart from that.... its great!

Yes I think being strong in math and biology would help. But I feel like your over looking the most important part of being a nurse the SPONGE BATHS!!!! I think you should find a significance other and start practicing immediately. Trust me there is nothing worse than some Nazis nurse that is not careful with the goods love. I like a gentle but firm nurse with good wrist action and PS do not be stingy with your time spend at least 10 to 15 minutes. I hope this will help you trough the next couple years of schooling already knowing what people want need and expect from a great nurse!!

lol, Janey I totally agree with you.
To answer the question, you don't have to be great in math as long as you have the basics. Most nurses suck in math. You will need a lot of science though. Anatomy and physiology is the main thing, but most colleges require chemistry and other sciences you will barely use. For the most part you need to be able to think on your feet, work on your own, work well with others, patience, caring and the ability to handle difficult people and situations. Nursing is a very rewarding career, but can be stressful and trying at times.