All nurses are extremely talented and skilled and is not a job for the faint hearted. Most nurses have excellent clinical skills learned both through their education and through their experiences on-the-job However, there are a few nurses who set them selves apart from the rest and strive to provide the best possible nursing experience for their patients through soft skills. Soft skills are innate components of an individual’s personality and core values. Some nurses are born with natural instinct, however it can be learnt and developed over time.

Soft skills can help build personal relationships between the nurse and the patient as well as helping to develop relations with other interdisciplinary team members. This can help to enhance teamwork and collaboration and lead to improving patient outcomes.

The first soft skill that helps nurses to become the best in their field is effective communication. Communication begins before you even speak. A nurse can decipher how a patient is feeling before they even talk to them by reading their non-verbal cues. You can maintain eye contact to let your patient know you are genuine and tells them that you respect them and are acknowledging their presence and that you are interested in what they have to say.

Another soft skill that is important to master is empathy. It is crucial to practise empathy which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. No amount of technology can compensate for an empathetic nurse who an connect with their patients by understanding what they are going through. They are able to acknowledge their patient’s emotional state, listen and engage the patient with open communication. This makes patients feel comfortable enough to share their feelings, fears and concerns related to their healthcare.

Organisation and time management is the last soft skill that will help to set you apart from the other nurses. Having organisational skills speaks to your ability to function effectively in the workplace. It makes handling their daily responsibilities easier and maintains a professional environment during interactions with patients, family members and colleagues.