Soft Skills for Nurses: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation

Being a nurse is about more than just medical knowledge or clinical skills—it’s about how you connect with people. Whether it’s comforting a patient, collaborating with your healthcare team, or staying composed in a high-pressure situation, soft skills play a huge role in everyday nursing life.

In this blog, I want to highlight three essential soft skills that every nurse should develop: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation. These aren’t just professional buzzwords—they’re tools that can truly make a difference in how we care, communicate, and grow as future nurses.

Leadership

Leadership in nursing isn’t only for managers or senior nurses. It means setting a positive example, staying calm under pressure, and supporting your team—no matter what your role is. Even small actions can reflect strong leadership and inspire others.

Examples of leadership in action:

1. Handling a Code Blue Like a Pro
   A patient suddenly goes into arrest during your night shift. Staying composed, acting swiftly, and helping coordinate the response shows true leadership.
2. Training a New Nurse
   Taking time to guide and support new colleagues helps build a stronger, more confident team.
3. Advocating for a Patient
   Speaking up when a patient’s needs aren’t being fully met shows both courage and care.
4. Keeping the Team Positive During a Rough Shift
   When morale is low, a simple word of encouragement can lift spirits.
5. Taking Initiative When Nobody Else Will
   The IV machine is beeping, call lights are going off, and the unit clerk is swamped—you step in to help without being asked.

Teamwork

Nursing is never a one-person job. It’s a team effort involving nurses, doctors, support staff, and even the patient’s family. Good teamwork means knowing how to share responsibility, communicate clearly, and support each other, especially during high-stress moments.

Examples of strong teamwork:

1. Helping with a Heavy Lift
   Instead of waiting, you grab a colleague and lift safely—saving time and avoiding injury.
2. Tag-Teaming During a Code
   Knowing your role and jumping in without hesitation during an emergency makes a huge difference.
3. Covering Breaks Without Complaints
   Everyone needs rest, and your willingness to help makes the unit more balanced and fair.
4. Supporting a New Nurse
   Offering guidance or just being available for questions can mean the world to someone just starting out.
5. Communicating During Handover
   A clear, concise handover ensures patients get uninterrupted, quality care.

Negotiation

Negotiation isn’t always about big arguments—it’s often the small, respectful conversations that matter most. Whether it’s discussing patient care plans with a doctor or rearranging shifts with a colleague, being able to find solutions that work for everyone is a skill that can prevent conflicts and build trust.

One simple framework:

1. Situation: A colleague wants to switch shifts.
2. Problem: You already have plans that day.
3. Approach: You calmly explain your side, listen to theirs, and suggest a compromise—maybe trading a different shift instead.

Conclusion

Soft skills like leadership, teamwork, and negotiation aren’t just “extras”—they’re essential. They help us communicate better, work smarter, and care more deeply. While these skills take time to build, every experience in nursing school or clinical practice helps shape them.

As student nurses, let’s not just focus on textbooks and procedures. Let’s also grow into confident leaders, dependable teammates, and thoughtful communicators—because that’s what real nursing is all about.

By

Bhavya P

BSc Nursing 1st year

Sri Sri Institute of Nursing