The nursing soft skills constitute elements of higher vocational nursing students: a qualitative study / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the nursing soft skills constitute elements of higher vocational nursing students and give some suggestions for their education. Methods A qualitative study was used. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 15 participants including higher vocational nursing educators, nursing managers and clinical nursing teachers. The results were finally coded, described, classified and analyzed. Results The nursing soft skills of higher vocational nursing students are composed of three main dimensions comprising personal attributes, interpersonal skills and conceptual/thinking skills, among which personal attributes include personality and self-management; interpersonal skills include interpersonal communication and teamwork skills; conceptual/thinking skills include problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Conclusions Personal attributes are the decisive elements for higher vocational nursing students' competencies. Interpersonal skills are the core competency for nursing works. Conceptual/thinking skills ensure higher vocational nursing students to acquire sustained development. A systematic nursing soft skills training model should be constructed.