Senior nurses’ perceptions of essential soft skills for novice nurses in a private hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Background: Nursing jobs are very complex and stressful, and nurses are demanded to have high competency and soft skills to keep their performance. However, the nursing workload often leads to fatigue, and it will be very challenging for novice nurses. Therefore, they need to be trained in soft skills in order to be able to control their emotion and adapt to the situation. Unfortunately, studies on essential soft skills for novice nurses in Indonesia are scarce; further research on this topic is a necessity. Objective: This study aimed to explore the perception of senior nurses about the essential soft skills for novice nurses during their work adaptation process.Methods: This qualitative study used an interpretive phenomenology approach, which was conducted in a private hospital in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews from ten senior nurses selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using Gadamer’s hermeneutic approach.Results: Nine essential soft skills were developed for novice nurses during their transition phase from education to practice, including self-control, initiative, caring, self-motivated, hospitality, flexibility, adaptability, analytical skill, and presentation skill. Conclusion: Findings of this study serve as a basis for developing the soft skills of novice nurses in their clinical practice in hospitals in Indonesia. It is also recommended that soft skills should be included in the nursing education curriculum. However, soft skills are essential for novice nurses to succeed in their adaptation and future career. Funding: This study was funded by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of Indonesia through the “Beginner Lecturer Research Grant”.

Unraveling the synergy: how organizational intelligence fuel soft skills and nurses’ thriving: a cross-sectional study

“…These findings are consistent with those of Bratajaya (2021), who found that senior nurses are more aware of nine crucial soft skills—self-control, self-motivation, adaptability, flexibility, hospitality, and presentation skills than beginner nurses. Additionally, they highlight the significance of these soft skills and how they function as a crucial intermediate stage between beginner and senior nursing [ 12 ].…”

“…These skills include self-improvement, effective communication, and transferable abilities that are human-focused and interactive [ 11 ]. Thus, soft skills strengthen the ability to control personal emotions, flexibility to confront changes and adapt, optimism, invention, and initiative, which makes it simpler for nurses to perform their nursing jobs [ 12 ]. Today, healthcare organizations must consider the soft skills of nurses because nurses are more sensitive and affected by their work environment, so they can experience thriving and flourishing [ 13 ].…”

Autoavaliação de soft skills em enfermagem: construção e validação de conteúdo de um instrumento

“…Elas são características pessoais que permitem ter um bom relacionamento interpessoal, integrar vários interesses e usar tais habilidades como estratégia para tomar decisão. (12)(13)(14) Como o desenvolvimento de soft skills tem relação direta com liderança autêntica e a busca do autoconhecimento faz parte do autodesenvolvimento, os indivíduos devem aperfeiçoar estas habilidades para alcançar tal estilo de liderança. (11) Assim, os indivíduos devem fazer uma autoavaliação, incluindo seu momento de vida e sua carreira profissional, definindo o que é importante para si mesmo.…”

Soft Skills

“…This work, like all nursing work, requires soft skills, defined here as the ability to communicate clearly and appropriately, build trust, cultivate rapport, empathize, and manage disagreement. [8][9][10] This article examines, within 1 healthcare system, the interpersonal skills required of HaH work, skills identified as vital by working HaH nurse navigators. Little has been written about this interpersonal labor.…”

“…Furthermore, developing HaH programs are likely to be unfamiliar to providers and patients, requiring navigators to advocate for, build trust in, and educate about the new programs. This work, like all nursing work, requires soft skills, defined here as the ability to communicate clearly and appropriately, build trust, cultivate rapport, empathize, and manage disagreement 8-10 …”