If You’ve Got These 3 Personality Traits, You’re Meant to Be a Nurse — According to Real Nurses

Wondering if you’ll make a good nurse? We asked three professional nurses to share the childhood traits that eventually became their biggest strengths in healthcare.

Empathy

Anja Deitmer – Pediatric Nurse

“From a young age, I was drawn to comforting others, whether it was a classmate who was upset or a friend who was injured on the playground. What I didn’t recognize back then was that this natural sense of empathy and steady reassurance would become one of my most valuable strengths as a pediatric nurse, especially when supporting children and families through challenging moments.”

Communication

Sarah Kelly – Nurse Educator

“Growing up, my mom always said, ‘since I learned to talk, I have not stopped talking.’ I was good at talking to and with people I knew, as well as those I didn’t know. Communication is key to being an effective nurse. Talking with patients in the hospital who are lonely and want someone to listen to them can make all the difference.”

Curiosity

Elizabeth Fitzgerald – Emergency Room/Trauma Nurse

“As a child I was always asking ‘why’. I wanted to know how things worked and why things were happening. This has translated into a strong desire to understand what is going on with my patients and how the human body works.”

I Don’t Have These Traits. Can I Still Become A Nurse?

Yes! Empathy, communication and curiosity aren’t just personality traits — they’re skills you can build. Even if you’re naturally shy or introverted, you can absolutely become a great nurse.

If you feel the calling to become a nurse, Montclair State University’s 4-Year BSN Program can help you grow into the nurse you’ve always wanted to be.

Montclair’s curriculum is a blend of theory and practice — giving you both the hard and soft skills you’ll need to become an effective nurse.

Humanities coursework will help you strengthen your empathy and communication skills, allowing you to care for patients from all walks of life.

Hands-on training — including practice with intelligent simulators and regular clinical practicums — will give you the technological skills and confidence needed to thrive in any healthcare setting.

Why Montclair’s 4-Year BSN Program:

• Experiential Learning: Learn how to use emerging technology to care for patients in complex scenarios through simulation in Montclair’s immersive Simulation Center. Get clinical experience by caring for real patients in the community.
• Get Certification Ready: Upon graduation, you will be ready to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam — 92% of Montclair’s 4-year BSN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN in 2024.
• Comprehensive Nursing Curriculum: Develop your critical thinking and data analysis skills with a robust curriculum grounded in science, mathematics, the humanities and nursing theory.
• Affordable Tuition: As a public institution, Montclair offers one of the most affordable degrees in New Jersey. With plenty of options for financial aid — including scholarships and need-based grants — a nursing degree does not need to break the bank.

Ready To Take Your First Step Towards Your Future Nursing Career?

Prospective Students: The application for fall 2026 opens August 1. Get ready to apply by reviewing our admission requirements and scheduling a campus visit.
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Story by Staff Content Producer Jayda Brown.