The Two Sides of Nursing Excellence: Hard vs. Soft Skills

Every great nurse possesses a powerful combination of two types of skills. A winning resume showcases a healthy balance of both.

• Hard Skills (Your Clinical & Technical Toolkit): These are the teachable, technical abilities you learned in nursing school and have honed on the job. They are concrete, measurable, and often specific to healthcare technology and procedures.


• Soft Skills (Your Human Element): These are the interpersonal attributes that define how you care for patients and collaborate with colleagues. They are about your character, work ethic, and ability to connect. In nursing, these are just as critical as your technical know-how.

 

Your Clinical & Technical Toolkit (Hard Skills)

Hiring managers need to see at-a-glance that you have the core competencies to perform the job safely and effectively. Be specific and list the skills most relevant to the job you're targeting.

Patient Assessment and Direct Care

This is the foundation of nursing. Go beyond simply stating "patient care." List specific procedures you've mastered.

• Vital Signs Monitoring


• Wound Care and Dressing Changes


• Catheterization and Ostomy Care


• Tube Feedings


• Patient Mobility and Ambulation Assistance

 

Medical Charting and Technology

Tech fluency is non-negotiable in modern healthcare. Mentioning the specific software you've used is a huge plus.

• Electronic Health Record (EHR/EMR) Systems: Name the ones you know (e.g., Epic, Cerner, Meditech).


• Medication Administration Software: (e.g., Pyxis, Omnicell).


• Telehealth Platforms: If you have experience with virtual patient care.

 

Life Support and Certifications

Your certifications are instant proof of your qualifications. Don't bury them at the bottom of your resume; give them a prominent place in your skills section.

• Basic Life Support (BLS)


• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)


• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)


• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)

 

The Human Element: Essential Soft Skills

Anyone can list "good communicator" on their resume. You need to prove it. These skills differentiate a good nurse from a truly great one.

Communication and Empathy

You don't just talk to patients; you educate them, comfort their families, and coordinate with a diverse medical team. This requires high-level communication. Frame it as:

• Patient and Family Education


• Empathetic Communication


• Interdisciplinary Collaboration


• Conflict Resolution

 

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Nursing is all about making smart decisions under pressure. A hiring manager wants to know you can think on your feet. Showcase this through your ability to:

• Assess and Prioritize Patient Needs


• Adapt to Changing Patient Conditions


• Troubleshoot Equipment and Care Plans


• Manage Time and Triage Tasks Effectively

 

Teamwork and Adaptability

You are a vital part of a larger care team. Show that you are a collaborative and flexible professional who can handle the unpredictable nature of healthcare.

• Collaborative Care Planning


• Shift-to-Shift Handoffs and Reporting


• Adaptability in High-Stress Environments


• Willingness to Assist Teammates

 

How to Bring It All Together on Your Resume

Now, let's get these skills onto the page where they'll make the biggest impact.

1. Create a Dedicated Skills Section

This is a scannable list that gives a quick overview of your qualifications. Organize it logically.

Example:

Skills

* Clinical: Patient Assessment, IV Insertion & Therapy, Wound Care, Medication Administration, Epic EHR

* Certifications: ACLS, BLS, Registered Nurse (RN) - State of [Your State]

* Interpersonal: Patient Education, Critical Thinking, Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration

2. Weave Skills into Your Work Experience

This is where you prove your skills. Don't just list what you did; describe how you did it and what the result was. Use action verbs and numbers to quantify your achievements.

Instead of this:

• Responsible for patient care on a busy floor.

 

Try this:

• Managed and prioritized care for up to 6 post-operative patients per shift on a high-acuity surgical floor.


• Educated patients and families on post-discharge care plans, contributing to a 15% reduction in readmission rates for my patient cohort.


• Collaborated daily with physicians, physical therapists, and case managers to ensure seamless and comprehensive patient treatment.

 

Crafting these powerful, action-oriented descriptions can be tricky. If you want to see how the pros do it, exploring a dedicated resume tool like Resumost can provide inspiration with templates and pre-written phrases tailored for nursing professionals.

By strategically highlighting both your clinical expertise and your human touch, your resume will tell a compelling story—one that makes any hiring manager confident that you are the right nurse for their team.