Why are nursing skills important?
By 2030, employers in at least 30 states will likely be grappling with a shortage of registered nurses. To help organizations prepare for a shortage, you may incorporate a plan to hire and retain employees soon.
Although nurses are required to meet certain education and licensing requirements, many healthcare employers also use skill-based hiring to identify quality candidates. To use this approach effectively, it’s important that employers understand the skills nurses need and incorporate them into their job descriptions and interview questions.
“Behavioral interview questions are a great way to assess a candidate’s communication skills. You may assess their communication style in how they respond to your interview question, as well as through their provided examples of prior interactions during prior experiences with patients and colleagues.”
—Michelle Hensley, DNP
Top nursing skills to look for in candidates
Here are 48 common nursing skills to consider looking for in candidates:
1. Nursing
Whether you’re hiring an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse or a med/surg nurse, clinical nursing skills are essential for success. Incorporate these skills into your job description by using phrases like “skilled in oral suction for patients requiring mechanical ventilation” or “ability to perform detailed nursing assessments.”
You can assess these skills by offering shadowing experiences that allow current employees to better evaluate a candidate’s knowledge and abilities or by asking them to detail their experience and skills.
2. Communication skills
Nurses are required to provide detailed notes, educate patients and update other staff members about each patient’s progress. Experienced nurses also use active listening techniques to address patient and visitor concerns. Incorporate these requirements into your job description by using phrases like “excellent written communication skills” and “effective oral communication.”
You can assess a candidate’s oral communication skills during the in-person interview and written skills through their resume and cover letter examples.
3. Care plans
Nurses use care plans to document each patient’s needs and identify appropriate nursing interventions. A skilled nurse can create their own care plans and follow plans created by other staff members. If you want to include this skill in your job descriptions, use phrases like “identifying care planning needs” and “documenting assessment results.”
To verify that a nurse has these skills, ask questions related to care planning.
4. English
In most US-based positions, the ability to speak and write in English to reduce the risk of errors and ensure that patients understand their instructions is essential. Fluency in additional languages, such as Spanish, may be required or preferred based on location and patient population. Consider including the phrase “English proficiency required” in your nurse job description.
You can assess English proficiency throughout the interview process.
5. Documentation review
Nurses frequently review documentation to ensure it’s accurate and complete. Include this skill in your job description if you’re hiring a team lead who will be required to review and edit the documentation prepared by other nurses. “Ability to review documentation for completeness” is a good way to incorporate this skill in your job description.
You can verify a candidate has the required skills by asking them interview questions specifically regarding their attention to detail.
6. Medication administration
Medication administration is one of the most important nursing duties, as it ensures that patients get the correct medications in the correct amounts. You may mention the skill in your job description by using phrases like “ability to use automated dispensing system” or “strong understanding of how to store and handle medications safely.”
During the hiring process, assess this skill by asking questions regarding best practices and prior experience administering medication.
7. Acute care
Many nurses provide acute care, which involves short-term treatment of acute illnesses or conditions rather than treating chronic health conditions. Consider adding this skill to your job descriptions if you’re hiring nurses for an urgent care clinic or a hospital unit that deals with sudden illnesses and injuries. Use phrases like “ability to provide acute care to adult patients.”
You can assess a nurse’s acute care skills by asking about prior experiences.
8. Patient care
To provide excellent care, a nurse usually requires the right combination of clinical skills, soft skills and compassion. Use phrases like “ability to build positive, respectful relations with patients” or “experience advocating for patients” to highlight the importance of this skill for your job opening.
To verify a nurse’s patient care skills, contact their references or ask a series of behavioral interview questions.
9. Computer skills
Nurses use computers for a variety of tasks, from accessing automated medication dispensing systems to writing notes in electronic medical records. If you mention this skill in your job description, be specific. Use phrases like “electronic health record (EHR) experience” or “ability to enter nursing data into a shared spreadsheet” to make your expectations clear.
You can assess a candidate’s computer skills by asking questions about previous electronic medical record (EMR) and software experience.
10. Home health
Home healthcare requires technical skills, such as the ability to start an IV line and take a patient’s vital signs. A home health nurse requires excellent problem-solving skills and can demonstrate the ability to operate with a fair amount of autonomy. Include this skill in your job description if you are hiring someone to visit patients at home.
You can assess a nurse’s home health skills by asking appropriate interview questions regarding past experiences.
11. Discharge planning
Nurses are important for discharge planning, since they educate patients about their aftercare needs. Include this skill in your job description if you are hiring a nurse with experience arranging for post-discharge care. Phrases like “ability to develop successful discharge plans” make it easier for applicants to understand your needs.
To assess this skill, ask each candidate to walk you through their approach to patient education or discharge planning.
12. Management
Some nurses take on supervisory roles, making management skills critical for their success. Add this skill to your job description if you’re hiring a charge nurse or nurse manager or if you want a nurse who can take on a supervisory role in the future. “Ability to motivate team members” and “demonstrated leadership experience” can be helpful phrases to include.
You can assess a nurse’s management skills by asking them what they would do in various challenging scenarios.
13. Computer literacy
Computer literacy is an essential skill for nurses, as they use technology to accomplish their tasks. If you include this skill in your job description, provide plenty of detail, including desired software, such as “familiarity with Microsoft Excel.”
You can assess a candidate’s computer literacy by asking about prior EMR and software experience.
14. Customer service
Nurses don’t provide customer service in the traditional sense, but they provide support to patients and visitors. A nurse may also have to resolve a patient’s concerns about their care. Instead of using the phrase “customer service” in your job description, consider “demonstrated ability to resolve patient complaints.”
To assess a nurse’s customer service skills, incorporate behavioral interview questions into your hiring process.
15. Supervising experience
Nurses look to their team leads for guidance, so it’s important to have staff members with supervisory experience in these roles. Add this skill to your job description if you’re hiring a team lead or want to attract an employee who can grow with your organization. “Supervisory experience required” and “ability to delegate tasks” are helpful phrases to include.
To verify a candidate’s supervisory experience, consider conducting reference checks or asking questions related to supervision.
16. Patient monitoring
Nurses rely on clinical assessment skills and medical devices to assess each patient’s status. Consider including this skill in your job description if you have an opening in your facility’s telemetry unit or if you seek a nurse with advanced monitoring skills. If possible, mention specific technologies, such as “ability to interpret heart rhythms as displayed on telemetry monitors.”
To assess this skill, ask each candidate to detail their experience with patient monitoring.
17. ICU experience
ICU nurses care for some of the sickest patients in the hospital, so previous experience is essential. Include this skill in your job description if you need to fill an opening in your facility’s ICU, cardiac ICU or medical intensive care unit (MICU). Use phrases like “2 years ICU nursing experience preferred”, “skilled in assessing critically ill patients” and “ability to analyze data to make care decisions.”
To verify a candidate’s experience, conduct a thorough background check or contact their professional references.
18. Caregiving
Caregiving is one of the most basic skills needed for a nurse, so use phrases like “ability to provide compassionate care to every patient” and “experience caring for diverse patient populations” in your job descriptions. You may also include a specific population, such as pregnant women or infants, if this applies to the role you are hiring for.
To assess a nurse’s caregiving skills, use behavioral interviewing techniques.
19. Time management
Nurses administer medications, take vital signs, change bandages and perform dozens of other tasks for multiple patients each day, making time management an essential ingredient for success. If you decide to include this skill in your job description, use phrases like “ability to manage time effectively” or “experience managing competing priorities.”
Time management is a soft skill, so assess each candidate by asking relevant questions.
20. Leadership
Nurses are organized and motivated to deliver high-quality patient care. Skilled leaders in high-performing environments typically get people excited about their goals and understand how to boost productivity even when resources are scarce. If you’re hiring a nurse manager who will be responsible for motivating team members, include this skill in your job description.
You can assess a nurse’s leadership skills by asking appropriate interview questions or contacting references.
21. Critical care experience
In a critical-care setting, nurses make quick decisions. For example, if a patient’s oxygen level drops, a nurse must know exactly what to do. This makes critical care experience essential for ICU and emergency department roles. Use phrases like “critical care experience highly desirable” and “3 years critical care nursing experience required.”
To assess this skill, carefully review each applicant’s resume to determine if they have ICU or coronary care unit (CCU) experience.
22. Writing skills
Documentation is one of the most important aspects of any nursing job. Include this skill in your job description if you’re hiring a charge nurse or a nurse who will be involved with writing external reports.
You can assess a nurse’s writing skills by reviewing written documents from the interview process, such as resumes and cover letters.
23. Hospital experience
Working in a hospital can be very different from working in an outpatient clinic, and it requires a different set of skills. For example, hospital nurses attend to ongoing patient needs at the bedside and may complete different bedside procedures. Consider including this skill in your job description if you’re hiring for a hospital setting position.
Before you make a hiring decision, verify each candidate’s employment history to ensure they have the required hospital experience.
24. Organizational skills
Nurses deal with dozens of patients, visitors and colleagues per day, so strong organizational skills are essential. A skilled nurse is able to keep records organized and avoid mixing up orders from physicians and other healthcare providers. Use phrases like “strong organizational skills required” to make your requirements clear.
To assess a candidate’s organizational skills, ask relevant interview questions and pay close attention to how they present themselves during the hiring process.
25. Hospice care
Hospice care allows patients with terminal illnesses to die with dignity, and hospice nurses play an important role in the healthcare industry. Include this skill in your job description if you’re recruiting for a hospice facility or need a nurse with hospice experience in one of your facility’s medical units. Incorporate phrases like “hospice care experience preferred.”
To verify a candidate’s experience with this skill, you can conduct a reference check.
Other top nursing skills in demand
Here are an additional 24 nursing skills that are common in nursing job postings on Indeed:
- Microsoft Office
- Patient observation
- Vital signs
- Bilingual
- EMR systems
- Microsoft Excel
- Spanish
- Pediatrics
- Teaching
- Microsoft Word
- Residents’ rights
- Senior care
- ER
- Case management
- Medical terminology
- Analysis skills
- Assisted living
- Microsoft Outlook
- IV infusion
- Catheterization
- Conflict management
- Wound care
- Primary care
