Soft skills vs. hard skills for nurses

0:00 Nurses need a combination of hard and 0:02 soft skills to excel in their roles. But 0:04 what's the difference between them and 0:05 why do both matter? 0:08 This is University of Phoenix presents 0:10 the framework. 0:12 We're breaking down soft skills versus 0:14 hard skills for nurses. What they are, 0:16 why they're important, and how they work 0:18 together in a nursing career. 0:21 These are the measurable technical 0:23 abilities nurses develop through 0:24 education and training. Think of them as 0:26 the science behind nursing. Some key 0:29 hard skills for nurses include clinical 0:31 knowledge and procedures, medication 0:33 administration, medical procedures, 0:36 patient assessment and monitoring, 0:37 electronic health records management. 0:40 Soft skills are personal traits and 0:42 interpersonal abilities that help nurses 0:44 work effectively with patients, 0:46 families, and healthcare teams. Some 0:48 essential soft skills for nurses include 0:51 communication, empathy and compassion, 0:54 adaptability, 0:55 critical thinking, time management. 0:59 Now, let's look at an example of how 1:01 hard and soft skills can be used in a 1:02 clinical setting. A nurse is preparing 1:05 to administer medication to a patient 1:07 who's visibly anxious. The patient has 1:09 never taken this medication before and 1:11 is worried about potential side effects. 1:13 The nurse takes a moment to explain what 1:15 the medication does, what the patient 1:17 might experience, and reassure them with 1:19 a calm, understanding tone. The patient 1:22 nods, takes a deep breath, and feels a 1:25 little more at ease. The nurse also 1:27 assesses baseline diagnostic and lab 1:30 testing prior to administering a 1:32 medication, which might affect kidney or 1:34 liver function or interact with another 1:36 prescribed medication. The nurse is 1:39 knowledgeable about the normal baseline 1:41 laboratory CBC and chemistry panel. Then 1:44 the nurse carefully measures the dosage, 1:46 checks the patients chart, and follows 1:48 precise protocols. This scenario 1:51 highlights how technical expertise and 1:53 interpersonal skills go hand in hand. 1:56 The nurse applied medical knowledge, 1:58 followed safety protocols, and 2:00 administered medication correctly. At 2:02 the same time, they recognized the 2:04 patients anxiety, communicated 2:06 effectively, and provided reassurance. 2:09 By combining these skills, the nurse not 2:11 only ensured accurate medical care, but 2:13 also helped the patient feel safer and 2:16 more confident about their treatment. 2:18 So, when it comes to soft skills versus 2:20 hard skills for nurses, the real answer 2:22 is that both are essential. Hard skills 2:25 ensure nurses can perform medical tasks, 2:27 while soft skills make them effective, 2:29 compassionate caregivers. For those 2:31 looking to strengthen both, pursuing an 2:33 RN to BSN or an MSN can help build 2:37 advanced clinical knowledge and 2:38 leadership abilities. If you want to 2:40 learn more about nursing education, 2:42 check out University of Phoenix's 2:43 nursing programs. And if you find this 2:45 video helpful, don't forget to like, 2:47 subscribe, and stay tuned for more 2:49 insights on careers, skills, and 2:51 education. See you next time on The 2:54 Framework.