Background:
Although prior studies demonstrate that “soft skills” are necessary for workplace success, few consider the emphasis faculty place on teaching soft skills. This study reports how top-ranked U.S. nursing faculty prepare students for success by incorporating soft skills training into their courses.
Method:
Data were collected with an online survey distributed in spring 2020 to approximately 2,000 faculty at 25 top-ranked nursing schools. Responses were solicited from those who have taught bachelor's and master's students within the past 2 years. Of 165 respondents who started the survey, 144 finished (7%).
Results:
Most nursing faculty view soft skills as important and feel at least some responsibility for teaching those skills.
Conclusion:
This study indicates that a majority of faculty are teaching a range of soft skills and that when they teach those skills, they are also likely to provide students with feedback.
[
J Nurs Educ
. 2021;60(8):437–443.]