Sometimes referred to as hard or practical skills, technical skills are the specialized tasks an individual must perform in their particular role. Developing your technical skills in nursing is critical, as you will rely upon them daily when working with your patients.
What Are the Technical Skills in Nursing?
Technical skills in nursing are defined by Indeed as the specific tasks and knowledge nurses need to fulfill their required job responsibilities. These skills typically include a range of clinical nursing techniques and procedures. While technical skills vary across different professions, those in nursing are uniquely tailored to patient care and medical settings.
Defining Technical Skills
Technical skills in nursing are the clinical skills required to care for patients in a variety of professional settings, including hospitals, clinics, homes, and schools. Clinical rotations are crucial for nurses to hone these skills, especially if they are licensure-related, as they provide valuable hands-on experience with patients.
Importance of Technical Skills
It is necessary to hone and develop technical skills in nursing because these practical skills are required for you to execute your job responsibilities in a safe and effective manner. Though soft skills help you approach your responsibilities in a more well-rounded way, technical skills allow you to perform them up to the standards and expectations of your employer. Developing these skills often involves hands-on interaction with patients, underscoring the significance of clinical experience. Clinical rotations are typically mandated for nursing licensure, serving as vital training for real-world healthcare scenarios.
Core Technical Skills Every Nurse Should Possess
Regardless of whether you are an ER nurse or a registered nurse working in a school building, these are the core nursing skills to focus on developing:
Urgent and Emergency Care
According to Indeed, every nurse needs a well-developed set of urgent and emergency care skills, as they may be called upon to provide patients with life-saving care at a moment’s notice. Urgent and emergency care skills entail accurately assessing the needs of patients, beginning emergency treatment (such as CPR), or collaborating with other medical professionals to prioritize patients.
Monitoring Vital Signs
Being able to identify, track, and monitor vital signs is an essential part of working as a nurse. Vital signs include an individual’s heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and respiration, and the status of these vital signs can indicate if they are in distress or need emergency care.
Patient and Family Education Skills
Nurses often serve as the liaison between the patient and the physician, meaning that communication, education, and advocacy are key parts of the job. Being able to provide patients and family members with factual and contextual information about their condition, treatment plan, and recovery allows you to be a more impactful nurse.
Patient Safety Awareness
According to a published study by Nursing Open, nurses are responsible for implementing safety measures and taking extra precautions to make sure their patients receive effective care. Some patient safety awareness skills may include transporting patients safely to the bathroom, ensuring their bed rails are in place, or ensuring they have access to necessary sanitary supplies.
Proficiency in Technology Usage
Technology is playing an increasingly central role in the realm of nursing, requiring you to become proficient in the most advanced healthcare technology. Knowing how to use current technology — and making an effort to continue learning more about up-and-coming technology — allows you to continue to streamline care for your patients.
Enhancing Your Technical Skills in Nursing
Most nurses begin to develop their technical nursing skills when they pursue a nursing degree, but they also continually refine and improve those skills once they start working in the field. As an established nurse, you may continue enhancing your technical skills in nursing by:
Embracing Technology in Nursing
While new technology might feel intimidating and overwhelming at times, the best thing to do is to embrace the changes that are sure to come within the field of healthcare technology. By enrolling in training programs, participating in webinars, and being willing to work with new technology, it may be easier to transition to the devices and platforms that will be introduced in the future.
Securing a Mentorship
Established nurses can offer a treasure trove of knowledge about how to improve your skills and better manage your career as a nurse. Securing a mentorship with another nurse could provide you with not only professional development opportunities but also an opportunity to develop an ongoing bond with another nurse in your specialty area.
Joining Professional Nursing Associations
Nurses who join professional nursing associations may find that they benefit from the extensive network of nurses with whom they are now connected. These professional associations also offer training opportunities, online resources, and information about recent trends in nursing, allowing you to stay abreast of the latest developments in the nursing profession. Some of the leading professional nursing associations include the American Nurses Association, the American Board of Nursing Specialties, and the American Academy of Nursing.
Communication: A Vital Aspect of Skill Improvement
Although communication is not considered to be a technical skill in nursing, it is still one of the most essential skills you could perfect as a nurse. Communicating clearly, concisely, and effectively allows you to both provide your patients with better care as well as identify your needs, and improve your nursing skills.
The Power of Consistent Practice
Ultimately, one of the best ways to consistently improve your nursing skills is to continue practicing as a nurse and explore new and challenging opportunities in the field. Nurses become more comfortable and confident over time, and their sense of intuition grows the more years they gain hands-on experience.
Incorporating Your Skills Into Your Professional Profile
As you continue to elevate your technical skills and acquire experience in nursing, you should highlight your professional skills and accomplishments on your resume.
Highlighting Skills on Your Resume
Within the nursing profession, your technical skills are the most crucial component of your resume. You want to emphasize the technical skills in nursing you have refined to showcase that you are a skilled, experienced, and competent nurse who is ready to provide patients with the high-quality care they deserve.
Showcasing Skills in Your Cover Letter
If a job application requires you to submit a cover letter, you have another opportunity to feature both your technical and soft nursing skills. Incorporating anecdotal information into your cover letter that highlights various skills you relied on during a particular situation could give your application a boost.
Discussing Skills During an Interview
During an interview, you should be able to discuss your nursing skills with confidence. You may want to come prepared with scenarios that showcase your ability to rely on technical nursing skills in a wide range of situations.
Overcoming Challenges in Mastering Technical Skills
Perfecting technical skills does not always come easy. You may find that the following are some of the common challenges associated with mastering technical skills in nursing:
Dealing With Technological Changes
While technological changes are inevitable, that does not necessarily mean managing them is straightforward. Technology will continue to revolutionize the nursing field, and if you are struggling with adapting to new technology, you should consider:
- Enrolling in a professional development or training program.
- Seeking help from an experienced nurse.
- Practicing with new technology as much as possible to become more familiar with it.
Balancing Soft Skills and Technical Skills
Knowing that you have to continue honing your technical skills while simultaneously developing soft nursing skills may be difficult. Soft skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication are often developed in tandem with your technical skills. In this area, it may be best to work with a nurse mentor to receive one-on-one support.
Staying Updated With Latest Nursing Practices
In a world that is constantly changing, it may be overwhelming to stay up to date with the latest nursing practices. When you join a professional nursing association, you are able to receive newsletters, attend conferences, and participate in webinars that allow you to learn more about recent trends in nursing.
The Role of Continuous Learning in Skill Enhancement
Earning your degree, becoming a registered nurse, and securing that first nursing position is just the start of your career. Continuous learning is an integral part of the nursing field, particularly in the digital age in which technology perpetually redefines our daily lives.
Pursuing Further Education and Training
To keep up with your existing technical skills in nursing and develop the most advanced nursing skills, you should prioritize education and training opportunities. For example, earning a Master of Science in Nursing could help expand upon your technical nursing skills and explore specialized clinical nursing skills and techniques for your career.
How Crucial Is Continuous Learning in Keeping Up With Technical Skills in Nursing?
While practicing in a hospital or clinical setting on a daily basis helps you polish your technical skills in nursing, it is continuous learning that allows you to develop new technical nursing skills. Advancing technology combined with the latest medical research and best healthcare practices requires you to pursue continuous learning and professional development opportunities in the field of nursing.
Explore Technical Skills in Nursing at Post University
At Post University, we offer an online Master of Science in Nursing that helps build upon your existing foundation and develop the most advanced technical skills in nursing. The curriculum explores a range of clinical nursing skills and techniques, allowing you to enhance your skill set and explore specialty areas in the industry.
Request more information about our online nursing degree programs today.
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