Soft Skills in Nursing
Teamwork in general, nursing profession is not only confined to medical treatment; it is more that that. The nurses are the one who constantly interact with the patients than the doctors do. More often, patients at the hospital communicate with nurses about their health condition, their emotional dilemma and difficulty they are experiencing with their illnesses. It is the obligation of the nurses to act as a bridge between the doctor and the patient. In the nursing field, there are many nurses facing the problem with a lack how to apply soft skills to their profession. Nursing students, when they study might be exposed to too much on the theory and technical part of nursing rather than on other skills. It is the responsibility of the nurses to act according to the situations and for that they need to develop themselves the professional behavior in listening, interpersonal, social and communication skills, and ethical attitudes in interacting with patients. Before, the need for management skills for nurses can be avoidable to a certain extent, but it was not for the experienced one. Hospital management in charge of nursing department must come up with plans to enhance their soft and technical skills. Better understanding of professional ethics starting from dress codes, telephone etiquette, basic drug administration, collection of specimens and samples, bio waste management, management of unit/ward and so on and so forth. And, most importantly, for them to acquire understanding of the hospital policy which helps them to behave with the standard set by the hospital management. Soft skills of nurses are an art for critical situation management that arises in the hospital more often. If the doctor is not available, the nurse plays a vital part for his absence. And, if the nurses do not soft skills, she will become uncomfortable to handle things and situations with the patients.
(http://www.sooperarticles.com/careers-articles/importance-soft-skills-nursing-career-133907.html)
This is the major reason, that nurses should be given continuous training programs in order to do their duty effectively. In soft skills development nurses are taught proper way of handling telephone conversation with the doctors. In the same way, they are also given appropriate training in handling certain protocol if needed. It can be proper introduction to the physician about their previous department, or telling clearly the patients’ room number, health condition, and foremost can provide good descriptions on the health situation of the patients that the doctors can easily get across the message. Furthermore, soft skill development can not be acquired in just one day. It is a continuous effort from the individual to rank up medical officials; in order to reach the expectations of the competitive medical world. Myra E. Levine quoted, “The quality of the moral commitment is a measure of the nurse’s excellence”. And, to be able for the nurses to achieve such a quality of excellent nursing service, they must polish both their technical and soft skills through a continuous education program by internal seminars and trainings. Orientation Program 2010 for the staff nurses and regular extracurricular activities help the nurses at Vydehi Nursing College Bangalore to build a strong foundation for soft skills among nurses in the hospital.
(http://www.sooperarticles.com/careers-articles/importance-soft-skills-nursing-career-133907.html)
Accordingly, soft skills for nurses are very important to learn at this time and age because it helps nurses to provide care and comfort to the sick and injured patients. At the same time, nurses are being looking for soft skills by their prospect employers during the hiring process. Aside from being reliable in the absence of the doctor, nurses should be effective in giving and receiving information. An excellent communication skill is very crucial in providing information to the patients, as well as to know when is the appropriate time to talk to the patients as well as to their families. The power of understanding other people’s feelings is very vital in making them feel that nurses feel about their health condition; so as to let them realize that nurses are their to help them to get well from their illnesses. More than that, team work is also essential, as nurses are part of an interdisciplinary health care team that includes other professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists and social workers. The nurses’ role on the team involves several activities that are essential to patient care. They carry out treatments prescribed by the doctor, they coordinate the activities of other professionals and they empower the patient to participate in his care. Also, nurses must have a good judgment and can be able to make fast decision regarding the patient’s health condition. Above anything else, the nurses should be capable of doing multi tasks.
(http://www.ehow.com/list_7460528_soft-skills-needed-becoming-nurse.html)
References:
(http://www.sooperarticles.com/careers-articles/importance-soft-skills-nursing-career-133907.html)
(http://www.ehow.com/list_7460528_soft-skills-needed-becoming-nurse.html)
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