Soft skills are often dismissed in favor of technical expertise. However, these skills define our personal characters and us as professionals. In nursing, soft skills are as essential as technical ones, creating a safe space to provide patient-centered care.
Soft skills—interpersonal abilities that allow nurses to form a better connection with those they serve—help create a positive environment where patients can recover comfortably. In the same way, these skills grant collaboration with healthcare teams navigating complex situations with more ease. As a nurse, you’ll need to master a set of soft skills to provide a well-rounded approach to your professional growth.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills are personal attributes and interpersonal abilities that, when mastered, empower effective interactions. Contrary to technical skills, job-specific and learned through formal training, soft skills are transferable and can be used anywhere and everywhere. They are also challenging to teach in a traditional classroom setting. Soft skills not only help us be better professionals, but they also boost our relationships.
In nursing, key soft skills include:
- Communication: Conveying information clearly.
- Empathy: Understanding your patients’ feelings.
- Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with your teammates.
- Problem-solving: Analyzing and resolving complex situations.
A combination of both technical and soft skills prepares nurses to provide all-embracing, patient-centered care while navigating complex and stressful situations in the field.
Why are soft skills necessary in Nursing?
Soft skills are vital in patient care and growth, assisting nurses in providing compassionate, effective healthcare and allowing nurses to connect with patients and collaborate with colleagues in different ways, such as:
- Adaptability and resilience. Maintaining your composure during stressful, complex situations and applying problem-solving skills are essential for every professional nurse. These skills promote the flexibility healthcare organizations are always looking for. Like this, nurses can adjust their practice, handle emotional challenges, and deliver high-quality care in a dynamic environment.
- Career advancement. For nurses, soft skills are what sets them apart from the job market. Adaptability, communication skills, and interpersonal effectiveness are all competitive capabilities employers look for in their nurses. These are essential for leadership roles and career growth, allowing nurses to stand out and fulfill professional goals.
- Holistic patient care. Holistic patient care empowers nurses to communicate complex information with empathy and clarity. Through this mutual understanding between patient and caretaker, nurses become more aware and in tune with the patient’s needs. Employing holistic care supports critical thinking, facilitating treatment, and making decisions for the patient’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
- Patient care enhancement. Soft skills improve patient care by demonstrating empathy, effective communication, and understanding non-verbal cues. By mastering these skills, nurses establish a bond of trust and comfort, leading to better patient outcomes and process satisfaction!
- Professional collaboration. Nurses are one of the singularities in a healthcare system. They often need to collaborate with peers, different teams, and organizations to provide the best care possible. Learning teamwork skills equips nurses with collaboration techniques and the ability to give and receive constructive feedback. This way, nurses strengthen their professional relationships, which ultimately leads to a more peaceful healthcare environment.
How UB helps you develop soft skills
University of Bridgeport nursing programs prepare students for the professional world by taking a well-rounded approach with a curriculum that combines major-specific and general courses to improve interpersonal skills. Hands-on clinical experiences let students practice empathy and communication, starting in sophomore year.
At UB, we know that great nurses need more than just technical skills. That’s why we focus on developing those essential soft skills alongside hands-on experience. Our state-of-the-art Nursing Skills and Simulation Center gives you real-world patient care scenarios to build critical thinking and adaptability—skills that today’s healthcare world demands.
The Simulation Center creates realistic patient care scenarios, developing adaptability and critical thinking skills. At the same time, group projects and interprofessional education improve teamwork and communication. Plus, experienced nursing professionals mentor students throughout the program, providing valuable feedback on soft skills to prepare students for their future careers.
Real-world impact of soft skills
Soft skills are a part of our daily lives, already influencing us in both personal and professional ways. In nursing, these skills are key. They can improve patient care and help us work as a team. That’s why mastering soft skills can improve so many healthcare delivery outcomes.
Nurses with strong communication skills can effectively explain complex medical information to patients and their families. This can lead to better adherence to treatment plans. Being able to work as a team lets nurses coordinate better with doctors and specialists. This leads to better patient care and fewer medical errors. Also, staying calm under pressure can save many lives. It helps nurses stabilize critical patients and improve their chances of survival.
Enhance your job performance and career growth with soft skills
To improve your job performance and grow your career in nursing, developing soft skills is a must. But here’s the thing—it takes intentional effort and practice. So where do you start?
Get involved in extracurricular activities, and don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from peers and mentors. Communication is a big deal in nursing, especially when translating complex medical info into language your patients can easily understand while simultaneously treating your patients like responsible, educated adults—aka, not talking down to them. Try practicing active listening and role-playing different scenarios to sharpen those skills.
Soft skills aren’t just nice to have—they’re key to thriving in healthcare.
Start your nursing journey with UB
Kick off your nursing career at University of Bridgeport. It’s the perfect place to set yourself up for a fulfilling healthcare journey. Whether you’re looking for a BSN degree, Accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, or MSN, UB has a program that fits your goals and experience.
With experienced faculty and mentors guiding you, and connections to top local healthcare providers like Yale New Haven and Bridgeport Hospitals, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for internships and jobs.