Skilled Nursing Graduates Help Nursing Home Fill Workforce Gaps

One aspect of a nurse’s development that is often overlooked is the value of interpersonal and “soft” skills, which are as critical to a new nurse’s success as his or her technical training.

“A lot of new nurses haven’t had an opportunity to practice interpersonal skills,” the director stated. “In long-term care, patience and compassion are necessities.”

The nursing home community appreciates how Herzing’s nursing program emphasizes the importance of soft skills, such as communication and critical thinking, as well as cultural diversity.

Core soft skills, such as professionalism, respect, integrity, caring and engagement, are also encompassed in Herzing’s P.R.I.C.E. of Success framework. These values, which are the foundation for a successful, meaningful career, are central to the curriculum and the culture of Herzing to ensure students’ personal and professional development.

These values transfer to students’ interactions outside the classroom as well. In the simulation lab, for example, nursing students are encouraged to interact with the life-like patient model the same way they would a real person. This makes a big difference in how graduates approach patient care in the real world.

Many of the P.R.I.C.E values are reflected in the training and onboarding of new nurses in real nursing facilities.

“I certainly want professionalism and competency from my clinical staff,” the director said. “Respect, integrity, caring and engagement are all key points we stress during our orientation.”

Herzing nursing students spend a great deal of time developing clinical skills, first in the lab and then through clinical rotations at hospitals and other healthcare settings.

“New graduates tend to be nervous. They haven’t had a lot of opportunities to practice,” she said. “By contrast, Herzing graduates have had the opportunity to hone their skills. They are more experienced and show a higher level of competence in the job.”