Top nursing skills to look for in candidates
1. Nursing
Included in 24.12% of nursing job postings
Whether you’re hiring an 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 incorporating role-playing exercises into your hiring process or asking each candidate’s references to detail their experience and skills.
2. Communication skills
Included in 15.88% of nursing job postings
Nurses must 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 “ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing.”
You can assess a candidate’s communication skills by asking them to provide sample nursing notes.
3. Care plans
Included in 13.48% of nursing job postings
Nurses use care plans to document each patient’s needs and identify appropriate interventions. A nurse should be able to 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, review samples of their previous care plans or ask questions related to care planning.
4. English
Included in 8.02% of nursing job postings
Nurses must often be able to speak and write in English to reduce the risk of errors and ensure that patients understand their instructions. Consider including the phrase “English proficiency required” in your nurse job description.
You can assess English proficiency by administering a written test as part of your hiring process.
5. Documentation review
Included in 7.38% of nursing job postings
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 needs 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.
If you want to verify a candidate has the required skills, ask them to review an incomplete nursing document and offer suggestions for improvement.
6. Medication administration
Included in 6.44% of nursing job postings
Medication administration is one of the most important nursing duties, as it ensures that patients get the correct medications in the correct amounts. If you want to mention the skill in your job description, use 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
Included in 6.40% of nursing job postings
Many nurses provide acute care, which consists of short-term treatment rather than the treatment of 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 incorporating role-playing exercises into your interview process.
8. Patient care
Included in 6.08% of nursing job postings
To provide excellent care, a nurse must have just the right combination of clinical skills, soft skills and compassion. Use phrases like “ability to put patients at ease” or “experience advocating for patients” to highlight the importance of this skill for your job opening.
If you need to verify a nurse’s patient care skills, contact their references or ask a series of behavioral interview questions.
9. Computer skills
Included in 5.84% of nursing job postings
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 “Epic 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 administering pre-employment tests or asking questions about previous software experience.
10. Home health
Included in 5.12% of nursing job postings
Home health care requires several nursing psychomotor skills, such as the ability to start an IV line and take a patient’s vital signs. A home health nurse must also have excellent problem-solving skills. Include this skill in your job description if you need to hire someone to visit patients at home.
You can assess a nurse’s home health skills by asking appropriate interview questions or engaging in role-playing activities.
11. Discharge planning
Included in 4.18% of nursing job postings
Nurses play an important role in discharge planning, as they educate patients about their aftercare needs. Include this skill in your job description if you need to hire 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 share a sample discharge plan or walk you through their approach to discharge planning.
12. Management
Included in 3.71% of nursing job postings
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 if you want a nurse who can take on a supervisory role in the future. “Ability to motivate team members” and “demonstrated leadership experience” are 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
Included in 3.39% of nursing job postings
Computer literacy is one of the most basic skills for a nurse, as nurses must use technology to accomplish their tasks. If you include this skill in your job description, provide plenty of detail including desired software such as “at least three years of experience using Microsoft Excel.”
You can assess a candidate’s computer literacy by administering a pre-employment skills test.
14. Customer service
Included in 3.24% of nursing job postings
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 role-playing exercises or behavioral interview questions into your hiring process.
15. Supervising experience
Included in 3.05% of nursing job postings
Nurses look to their team leads for guidance, so it’s important to have staff members with supervisory experience. Add this skill to your job description if you’re hiring a team lead or if you want to attract an employee capable of growing with your organization. “Supervisory experience required” and “ability to delegate tasks” are helpful phrases to include.
To verify a candidate’s supervisory experience, conduct reference checks or ask questions related to supervision.
16. Patient monitoring
Included in 2.93% of nursing job postings
Nurses must rely on pulse oximeters and other 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 need 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 patient monitoring experience.
17. ICU experience
Included in 2.82% of nursing job postings
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, CCU or MICU. Use phrases like “skilled in assessing critically ill patients” and “ability to analyze data to make care decisions.”
If you want to verify a candidate’s experience, conduct a thorough background check or contact their professional references.
18. Caregiving
Included in 2.45% of nursing job postings
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 even want to include a specific population, such as pregnant women or infants.
To assess a nurse’s caregiving skills, use behavioral interviewing techniques or add role-playing exercises to your hiring process.
19. Time management
Included in 2.45% of nursing job postings
Nurses administer medications, take vital signs, change bandages and perform dozens of other tasks 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 or having them participate in role-playing activities.
20. Leadership
Included in 2.37% of nursing job postings
Nurses must be organized and motivated to deliver high-quality patient care. Skilled leaders 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
Included in 2.22% of nursing job postings
In a critical-care setting, nurses must be able to 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, CCU, MICU and other emergency department roles. Use phrases like “critical care experience highly desirable” and “previous critical care employment a must.”
To assess this skill, review each applicant’s résumé carefully to determine if they have ICU or CCU experience.
22. Writing skills
Included in 2.04% of nursing job postings
Documentation is one of the most important aspects of any nursing job. You may want to 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 asking for sample reports or doing pre-employment skills tests.
23. Hospital experience
Included in 2.02% of nursing job postings
Working in a hospital can be very different from working in an outpatient clinic, so it requires a different set of skills. For example, hospital nurses must answer patient call lights and resolve conflicts with visitors. Consider including this skill in your job description if you’re hiring for a high-level hospital position.
Before you make a hiring decision, verify each candidate’s employment history to ensure they have the required hospital experience.
24. Organizational skills
Included in 1.96% of nursing job postings
Nurses deal with dozens of patients, visitors and colleagues per day, so strong organizational skills are essential. A skilled nurse must be able to keep records organized and avoid mixing up orders from physicians and therapists. 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
Included in 1.91% of nursing job postings
Hospice care allows patients with terminal illnesses to die with dignity, so 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 a plus.”
If you want to verify a candidate’s experience with this skill, conduct a reference check or pay for employment verification.
Other top nursing skills in demand
Here are an additional 25 nursing skills that are common in nursing job postings on Indeed:
26. Microsoft Office: Included in 1.9% of nursing job postings
27. Patient observation: Included in 1.81% of nursing job postings
28. Vital signs: Included in 1.61% of nursing job postings
29. Bilingual: Included in 1.53% of nursing job postings
30. EMR systems: Included in 1.41% of nursing job postings
31. Microsoft Excel: Included in 1.38% of nursing job postings
32. Spanish: Included in 1.37% of nursing job postings
33. Pediatrics: Included in 1.31% of nursing job postings
34: Teaching: Included in 1.25% of nursing job postings
35. Microsoft Word: Included in 1.22% of nursing job postings
36. Residents’ rights: Included in 1.19% of nursing job postings
37. Senior care: Included in 1.11% of nursing job postings
38. ER: Included in 1.08% of nursing job postings
39. Case management: Included in 1.04% of nursing job postings
40: Medical terminology: Included in 0.98% of nursing job postings
41. Analysis skills: Included in 0.95% of nursing job postings
42. Assisted living: Included in 0.92% of nursing job postings
43. Microsoft Outlook: Included in 0.81% of nursing job postings
44. IV infusion: Included in 0.80% of nursing job postings
45. Catheterization: Included in 0.80% of nursing job postings
46. EMR systems: Included in 0.77% of nursing job postings
47. Conflict management: Included in 0.77% of nursing job postings
48. Wound care: Included in 0.70% of nursing job postings
49. Primary care: Included in 0.70% of nursing job postings
¹Indeed data (US), January 2023 – Dec 2023
