Importance of soft skills in nursing and healthcare

Nursing is considered one of the noble professions in the world. Healthcare is a multi disciplinary profession where the importance of clear communication, empathy, patience, leadership skills is imperative. Discussing patient information with doctors and other medical professionals, managing patients with complicated health issues, tackling queries from patients’ family members — these are the key responsibilities of a nurse where her soft skills are often tested.

Organizations in every industry, including healthcare, now recognize the importance of building essential soft skills in their employees. It not only improves care services but harness the broader business benefits. Soft skills include communication and listening skills, emotional intelligence & adaptability and leadership. If you want to pursue BSC in Nursing, there are reputed nursing colleges in Eastern India that not only imparts academic knowledge but focuses on honing soft skills of the students as well.

1. Communication & Collaboration:

Communication & collaboration is the key in healthcare, whether working with different medical staff or patients and their families. An understanding of how to work with others, from across the spectrum, is necessary for both clinical care but also team building and various facets of nursing. There are reputed nursing institutes in Durgapur and other parts of Eastern India that equip students with the ability to communicate with team members in different roles as well as patients so that critical clinical decisions can be made minimizing errors. The students are also trained to foster a positive, comfortable and collaborative working environment which is essential to the high-quality care.

2. Empathy:

Healthcare is a service oriented industry and empathy plays a critical part in patient outcomes and satisfaction. Empathy is very much needed for understanding the feelings and needs of patients, as well as their families. Employers in hospitality industry want to hire people who are inherently kind and compassionate. It is something that cannot be taught. Considering the perspective of others and being sensitive towards patients and colleagues promote a sense of trust and respect.

3. Time management:

Time Management is an essential soft skill in every industry. However, when it comes to healthcare industry, it is an imperative skill that must be mastered at. Nurses are often expected to juggle multiple responsibilities and prioritize workload. They need to demonstrate the ability to quickly reprioritize due to last-minute scheduling adjustments or unforeseen events. Care providers must have proper strategies to complete all tasks in a fast-paced environment. Time management is not just useful in the clinical setting, it’s also necessary in nonclinical areas of the healthcare continuum.

Hard skills are acquired through education. But soft skills are something your mind needs to be trained at. Soft skills compliment hard skill requirements like communication and community building. In the current job landscape, soft skills are important considerations that determine the chances of getting hired.