Healthcare students spend countless hours mastering clinical skills, learning procedures, memorizing protocols, and practicing techniques. But did you know there’s another set of skills that’s just as important to becoming a great healthcare provider? We’re talking: Soft skills.
It is no secret that communication, empathy, teamwork, and adaptability often make the biggest difference in patient care. In fact, these are the skills that help you connect with worried patients, collaborate effectively with colleagues, and confidently navigate challenging situations.
From those studying medicine, to optometry, physiotherapy, and online ABSN programs, soft skills are important in all areas of healthcare. The good news is that you can develop these essential skills outside of class time.
Here are some simple (yet effective) ways to build your soft skills while completing your healthcare education.
Playing a team sport or joining a club might seem like just a fun break from your studies, but it’s actually one of the best ways to build soft skills that you’ll use every day in healthcare.
It teaches you to communicate under pressure – something that directly helps you during clinical rotations.
Taking on a leadership role – even something small like organizing a practice or club event – gives you hands-on experience making decisions and motivating others. These skills will come in handy when you’re coordinating care with colleagues in a busy hospital setting.
Healthcare is all about teamwork. By working with teammates who have different strengths and personalities, you’ll develop the flexibility needed to collaborate with the diverse personalities you’ll encounter in healthcare teams.
There’s a reason why healthcare programs value volunteer experience so highly. It builds soft skills in real-world settings that simply can’t be taught in a classroom.
When you volunteer at a hospital, senior center, or community clinic, you’ll interact with people from all walks of life. You’ll learn to explain things clearly to someone who’s confused or anxious – exactly what you’ll need to do when discussing care with patients.
Volunteering also builds emotional intelligence as you navigate sensitive situations. When you comfort someone who’s received difficult news or help a frustrated patient, you’re developing the emotional skills that great healthcare providers rely on daily.
Some great places to volunteer include:
These experiences may teach you things that no textbook or lecture ever could.
The most growth happens when you’re slightly uncomfortable. That’s as true for developing soft skills as it is for building muscles.
Challenge yourself to do things that make you nervous. If public speaking terrifies you, volunteer to present at a student conference. Healthcare will constantly put you in situations where you need to speak with authority and confidence.
Learning another language (even just some basic medical phrases) can dramatically improve your ability to connect with patients from different backgrounds.
Study abroad programs in healthcare offer another amazing opportunity to push your boundaries. When you’re figuring out a different healthcare system in another country, you’ll develop problem-solving skills and cultural awareness that will serve you throughout your career.
Students who regularly step outside their comfort zones develop a kind of emotional resilience. They learn to say ‘I can handle this’ when faced with stressful situations – and healthcare is full of those.
Getting better at soft skills requires knowing where you need improvement. This is why feedback is gold.
After difficult patient interactions during your clinical rotations, ask your supervisor: “How could I have handled that better?” Their insights will help you grow faster than simply moving on to the next patient.
Finding a mentor in your field can be game-changing.
You can also keep a simple journal about your clinical experiences. Just jotting down what went well and what you found challenging helps you process experiences and learn from them. One doctor I know still reviews his notes from his student days when he faces particularly difficult situations.
Remember that receiving criticism doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad job. It simply means you’re serious about becoming the best healthcare provider you can be.
You can’t simply learn cultural competence from a textbook. It comes from direct experience with people from different backgrounds.
Seek out opportunities to work with diverse communities. Volunteer at health screenings in different neighborhoods. Join student groups focused on healthcare disparities. These experiences will teach you to adapt your communication style based on cultural norms and individual needs.
Working with people from different backgrounds will inevitably lead to moments where you make mistakes or realize your own biases. These uncomfortable moments are actually valuable – they build cultural humility, which is the ongoing willingness to learn and adapt your approach.
Some opportunities for cultural engagement include:
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At the end of the day, your patients won’t remember how quickly you completed a procedure. But they’ll never forget how you made them feel.
By making time for activities that build these essential soft skills now, you’re setting yourself up for success in the long run. Good luck.
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