Soft skills are essential for your success as a nurse practitioner. Learn why employers and recruiters look for soft skills and how you can strengthen yours.

<h2>
  How Strengthening Your Soft Skills Can Make You a Better Nurse Practitioner
</h2>
<p>
  Looking for ways to grow professionally and expand your practice
  opportunities? Work on your soft skills!
</p>
<p>
  Soft skills don’t get the attention they deserve. Although soft skills have
  been deemed essential in health care, most health care education programs
  don’t explicitly teach them (<a
    href="https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/77395"
    target="_blank"
    >Dolev et al.</a
  >). Here, we delve into what soft skills are and why they’re critical for
  success. Then, we cover the top three soft skills you can improve to be the
  best possible NP for your patients, colleagues, supervisors, recruiters, and
  above all…yourself.
</p>
<h2>What Exactly Are Soft Skills?</h2>
<p>
  Soft skills are “personality traits, goals, motivations, and preferences that
  are valued in the labor market, in school, and in many other domains” (<a
    href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927537112000577"
    target="_blank"
    >Heckman and Kautz</a
  >). In “Hard Evidence of Soft Skills,” Heckman and Kautz continue by
  explaining why soft skills are essential: “Soft skills predict success in life
  … they causally produce that success, and … programs that enhance soft skills
  have an important place in an effective portfolio.”
</p>
<h2>Why Are Soft Skills Critical for Nurse Practitioners?</h2>
<p>
  While soft skills can improve performance in virtually any field, they are
  critical in health care, where the human element is inseparable from the task
  at hand. Health care organizations and staffing professionals are well-aware
  of this and are always on the lookout for providers who show strengths in this
  realm.
</p>
<p>
  “For every health profession, there are defined and measurable ‘hard’ skills
  that are expected to be mastered when applying for a position. However, it
  should be noted that when evaluating potential employees for a chosen health
  profession, these ‘hard,’ or technical skills, are not the only factors being
  evaluated” explains
  <a
    href="https://evolve.elsevier.com/education/expertise/faculty-development/the-importance-of-soft-skills-in-healthcare-professions/"
    target="_blank"
    >Murphy</a
  >
  in “The Importance of ‘Soft’ Skills in Nursing & Healthcare Professions.”
</p>
<p>Employers look for soft skills in candidates because these traits:</p>
<ul>
  <li>Impact everyone, from patients to colleagues</li>
  <li>Improve patient satisfaction ratings</li>
  <li>Foster a cohesive, supportive, team-oriented environment</li>
  <li>
    Enhance communication, preventing errors and enhancing clinical outcomes
  </li>
  <li>
    Help employers reach goals (<a
      href="https://evolve.elsevier.com/education/expertise/faculty-development/the-importance-of-soft-skills-in-healthcare-professions/"
      target="_blank"
      >Murphy</a
    >)
  </li>
</ul>
<h2>Top 3 Soft Skills for Nurse Practitioners</h2>
<h3>Communication</h3>
<p>
  Consider your verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills. Are you
  able to listen actively to patients, families, supervisors, and members of the
  care team? Can you explain information in clear terms to caretakers and
  patients? Do you ask open questions and avoid the use of language which may
  seem condescending? Do you ask patients to repeat back to you and summarize
  what has been discussed? Do you nod, smile, and generally create a safe space
  for patients who might feel vulnerable? Are you sensitive to language,
  religious, and cultural differences when interacting with others? Do you
  communicate clearly with your team to ensure safe and effective care delivery?
</p>
<h3>Time Management</h3>
<p>
  Consider ways to optimize your use of time during the day. Do you set aside
  time each morning to address patient concerns, answer calls and emails, and
  look at your schedule before you begin caring for patients? Do you find your
  patient visits frequently run behind? Are you able to prioritize what you must
  do yourself and delegate other tasks to members of your team? Are you able to
  take breaks to lower your stress level, recharge, and avoid burnout?
</p>
<h3>Work Ethic</h3>
<p>
  Is it easy for you to stick to your professional and personal ethics? Do you
  always maintain patients’ privacy and dignity in all interactions? Do you work
  to follow best practices and promote productive interactions among your
  teammates? If you encounter an ethical dilemma, are you willing to take
  action? Do you take accountability for your own actions and honor your
  commitments? Are you able to treat all patients, families and colleagues
  fairly and equitably?
</p>
<h2>How to Strengthen Your Soft Skills</h2>
<p>
  To develop your soft skills, start by making an honest assessment of your
  performance and identifying areas for improvement. Generate a list of ways you
  can strengthen the particular soft skill and perform a search for outside
  resources on the topic if necessary. Next, work on implementing the skill
  daily to create positive lasting habits. Finally, remember that strengthening
  soft skills is a life-long habit and there are plenty of opportunities for
  growth.
</p>
<p>
  To learn where your soft skills and specialized expertise are needed most,
  browse our
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/home" target="_blank"
    >nurse practitioner locums opportunities</a
  >
  today.
</p>

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