5 Soft Skills Employers Seek in Nurse Practitioners

A nurse practitioner has the ability to practice in the same way as a physician, but this may vary slightly from state to state. According the MedlinePlus, a division of the National Institutes of Health, a nurse practitioner has numerous duties including recording a patient’s history, examining the patient, diagnosing, treating, managing disease and performing certain medical procedures.

Nurse practitioner requirements vary from state to state, however more states are now requiring nurse practitioners to possess at least a master’s degree as well as national certification. Although a degree is a requirement of nurse practitioners, it takes more than just a diploma from an accredited college to land a good-paying job in the field.

1. Open to Learning New Skills and Information Regularly

Physicians and nurse practitioners are required to be updated constantly on the latest technology and advancements in medicine. You have to be willing to continuously learn in order to be successful. A love for learning and researching will not only impress a prospective employer, but it will make your job easier. The Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education offers regular conferences to keep nurse practitioners updated and well versed in various aspects of healthcare.

2. Friendly and Approachable

Patients feel comfortable when they can relate to you. They will be more likely to share their symptoms and medical concerns when they trust you. The easiest way to put patients at ease is to smile and show concern by having eye contact when speaking to the patient. For example, when asking patients about how they are feeling, take a brief moment before checking their blood pressure, and acknowledge their presence by smiling and giving them eye contact. This will show them that you genuinely care.

3. Detail Oriented

When it comes to examining a person, you must pay attention to the small details. This is important when a nurse practitioner is relaying details back to a physician in order to provide the proper treatment to the patient. One common medical error related to not being detail oriented is missing the fact that a patient has a medication allergy, which could result in death.

4. Think Quickly

As a nurse practitioner, you must be able to think quickly because sometimes you may be faced with an urgent case, which needs an immediate decision. From checking blood pressure to performing a kidney function test, nurse practitioners provide immediate results, answer questions and educate patients on what everything means. For example, a nurse practitioner may need to react quickly when a patient is experiencing a hypertensive emergency. Nurse practitioners must posses good decision-making skills, so that your response to the issue is a logical solution. It also helps if you handle stress well, since anxiety can hinder your ability to think rationally and promptly.

5. Effective Communication Skills

Given that 89 to 90 million adults in the United State have limited health literacy, you may probably see patients every day who have trouble reading and understanding health information, especially if English is their secondary language. Educating your patients increases their satisfaction with your medical facility, keeps them aware of best wellness practices, and makes your claims process more efficient. Take the time to develop and provide educational resources and you’ll have better informed, more engaged patients.

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