Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer

Soft skills elements in structured clinical skill assessment: a qualitative study



Abstract

Introduction: The intangible nature of soft skills makes it difficult for nursing academics to evaluate nursing students' attainment of these skills. Most of the time, academics focus more on assessing nursing students' knowledge and performance (hard skills) in clinical skill assessments. In focusing primarily on assessing nursing students' hard skill competencies, the nursing profession has given inadequate attention to developing their soft skill competencies. Thus, this study aimed to explore the nursing academic's view on soft skills elements in structured clinical skill assessment for the undergraduate nursing program.

Method: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach. A total of 10 nursing academics were involved, and they were recruited through a purposive sampling method. Data was collected through in-depth interviews using open-ended questions to gain insight into nursing academics' perception of soft skills elements in structured clinical skill assessment for the undergraduate nursing program. Data analysis was conducted by using an inductive content analysis method.

Results: Four themes emerge from this study. These are 1) awareness and involvement, 2) Factors influencing on implementation of soft skills in the structured clinical skills assessment, 3) academic responsibility, and 4) suggestions to overcome barriers.

Conclusion: Findings from this study provide new insights into the nursing academic perception of soft skills elements in structured clinical skill assessments of undergraduate nursing program needs improvement and proper structure on how/what are the soft skills elements that want to measure for nursing students. These findings would assist in developing a more strategic framework for soft skills elements in structured clinical skill assessments to produce quality nursing graduates.

Keywords: nursing academic soft skills undergraduate nursing program

References

  1. Wats RK, Wats M. Developing Soft Skills in Students. Int J Learn Annu Rev. 2009;15(12):1-10. doi:10.18848/1447-9494/cgp/v15i12/46032
  2. Lafferty PM. Balancing thecurriculum: promoting aesthetic knowledge in nursing. Nurse Educ Today. 1997;17(4):281-286. doi:10.1016/s0260-6917(97)80057-3
  3. Passel CA. Service-learning's impact on the development of undergraduate nursing students' soft skills. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. Published 2015. Accessed June 19, 2022. http://210.48.222.80/proxy.pac/docview/1696935963?accountid=44024
  4. Fairuzza, Mohamad Nazuir, Wahid. Employers' Perception On Soft Skills Of Graduates : A Study Of Intel Elite Soft Skill Training. Int Conf Teach Learn High Educ. 2011;(Ictlhe).
  5. Jacob MM. The Importance of Soft Skills: Education beyond Academic Knowledge. Glob J English Stud. 2016;2(1):1-9.
  6. Laari L, Anim-Boamah O, Boso CM. Integrative review of soft skills the desirable traits and skills in nursing practise. Published online 2021. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-605637/v1
  7. Jamaludin TSS, Nurumal MS, Ahmad N, Muhammad SAN, Chan CM. Development and Evaluating Content Validity of Clinical Skill Analysis Index Tools. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2022;9(T5):6-12. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2021.7824
  8. Jamaludin TSS, Nurumal MS, Ahmad N, Muhammad SA@ N, Chan CM. Soft skill elements in structured clinical nursing assessment for undergraduate nursing students: A systematic review. Enfermería Clínica. 2021;31:S58-S62. doi:10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.10.019
  9. Morrell BLM, Eukel HN, Santurri LE. Soft skills and implications for future professional practice: Qualitative findings of a nursing education escape room. Nurse Educ Today. 2020;93:104462. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2020.104462
  10. Nurumal MS, Jamaludin TSS, Ahmad N, Muhammad SAN, Chan CM. Integration Of Islamic Values in Undergraduate Nursing Program: An Expository Analysis. Int J CARE Sch. 2019;2(2):5-8. doi:10.31436/ijcs.v2i2.125
  11. Nurumal MS, Jamaludin TSS, Ahmad N, Muhammad SAN, Chan CM. Numeracy Skills for Undergraduate Nursing Students' Clinical Skill Assessment: An Expository Analysis. Nurs & Healthc Int J. 2022;6(2):1-5. doi:10.23880/nhij-16000261
  12. Williams-Buenzli WJ. A Measure of Soft Skill Gains Acquisition with Engagement in Baccalaureate Nursing Programs. The University of Southern Mississippi; 2015.
  13. Johnson JL, Adkins D, Chauvin S. A Review of the Quality Indicators of Rigor in Qualitative Research. Am J Pharm Educ. 2020;84(1):7120. doi:10.5688/ajpe7120
  14. Heydenberk R, Heydenberk W. The Hard Truth about Soft Skills. Acad Lett. Published online 2022. doi:10.20935/al4653
  15. Laari L, Dube BM. Nursing students' perceptions of soft skills training in Ghana. Curationis. 2017;40(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4102/curationis.v40i1.1677
  16. Osman W., Girardi A. PM. Educator perceptions of soft skill development: An examination within the Malaysian public higher education sector. Int J Learn. 2012;18(10):49-62.
  17. Md Ali R., Shaffie F. MYF. Public university educators' understanding and conception of soft skills for educators. Int Rev Manag Mark. 2016;6(7):181-186.
  18. Kermis G F. KMD. Model for the transition from ethical deficit to a transparent corporate culture: A response to the financial meltdown. J Acad Bus Ethics. 2009;2(1):1-11.

How to Cite

Jamaludin, T. S. S., Mohd. Said Nurumal, Norfadzilah Ahmad, Siti Aesah Naznin Muhammad, & Chong Mei Chan. (2022). Soft skills elements in structured clinical skill assessment: a qualitative study. Bali Medical Journal, 11(3), 1666–1674. https://doi.org/10.15562/bmj.v11i3.3721
ACM ACS APA ABNT Chicago Harvard IEEE MLA Turabian Vancouver
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX

HTML
3

Total
1

Share

Search Panel

Thandar Soe Sumaiyah Jamaludin
Google Scholar
Pubmed
BMJ Journal

Mohd. Said Nurumal
Google Scholar
Pubmed
BMJ Journal

Norfadzilah Ahmad
Google Scholar
Pubmed
BMJ Journal

Siti Aesah Naznin Muhammad
Google Scholar
Pubmed
BMJ Journal

Chong Mei Chan
Google Scholar
Pubmed
BMJ Journal