Soft and Hard NP Skills In almost every industry and job role, there are "hard" and "soft" skills that make an employee well-rounded and effective. For nurse practitioners, clinical skills make up the bulk of the hard skills necessary for the job. However, nurse practitioner skills encompass a lot more than just the clinical skills you learn in school. Some skills needed to become a nurse practitioner cannot necessarily be learned or taught. They are more inherent personality traits that enable you to connect with and read patients. On the other hand, there are many nurse practitioner skills that you will learn theoretically in school and then practice and develop later when you are working as a nurse practitioner. The skills required for a nurse practitioner are diverse and encompass everything from time management to ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests. What soft and hard skills have you mastered as a nurse? What new soft and hard skills do you feel you need to master to be a competent and safe nurse practitioner? Why are these skills important, and how do you see yourself acquiring these skills?