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What skills are most important for students who want to work in healthcare?

I’m a student who is interested in working in the healthcare field in the future. I want to learn which skills are most important to start developing now, both in school and outside of school. I’m especially interested in skills like communication, teamwork, responsibility, and empathy, and how these skills are used in healthcare careers.

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Thank you comment icon I hope my answer to your other questions address this. Siva Kann
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Kathleen’s Answer

Hi! You are thinking ahead and that's great. All the skills you mention are critical no matter which area of healthcare you pursue. Communication is very important to ensure you understand what is expected of you and in order to make instructions and procedures clear to co- workers and patients. Teamwork is critical as are responsibility and accountability. It's very important to know and follow policies and procedures, if you note a flaw or potential for problems, you need to present a viable solution or pose appropriate questions, rather than complaining or blaming. Empathy is important for patients and co-workers. Listening, and learning to ask questions to clarify issues in order to develop pathways to understand and help others understand their concerns, fears, and conditions will help
lead to success and
satisfaction.
Best wishes,
Kathie
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Dianna’s Answer

One thing that people tend to forget about is patience. You have to pace yourself, don’t rush, and don’t rush others. It allows you to catch any mistakes you might have made, it allows patients to express themselves without feeling pressured, overwhelmed, or ignored. Patience is a virtue and boosts your quality in every career.
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Danielle’s Answer

A great question and many great answers provided above. I agree wholeheartly that if you want to work in healthcare, then one the top skills I believe one should have that is strong in is communication. In healthcare you will deal with a variety of people from all walks of life of different and will learn to adapt to be provide the best care or services to a wide variety of people. Best of luck to you you got this!!!

sincerely,

Danielle Rodriguez BSN, RN
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Michele’s Answer

I admire your ambition to work in healthcare. I have been in different aspects of healthcare for over 30 years and find it satisfying. No other job really impacts everyone the way healthcare does. I would think about what aspect appeals to you. Work with your local hospitals, physician groups (you can ask your own doctor for contacts), and agencies that support healthcare (like social work and public health departments) to see what volunteer and shadowing opportunities exist. I believe all the skills you mentioned are relevant in any occupation. I think learning to live with uncertainty is key for healthcare. The situations you will encounter change constantly and often there is no black and white answer. You have to prepare yourself to live in the grey.

Good luck to you.
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Evan’s Answer

Communication skills are some of the most important you can build for healthcare. This includes patience and empathy as often people you interact with will not be in the best place emotionally, physically, or mentally. Additionally learning to critically think and recognize patterns are quite helpful as it will come up a lot in many fields.
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Morgan’s Answer

If you are interested in working in the healthcare field, I would highly recommend volunteering your time at your local hospital or nursing home. This is a great way to see what interest you about healthcare and figure out how to interact with patient along with healthcare staff. In order to be successful in healthcare, you need to show empathy and have good communication skills.
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Lakshika’s Answer

Hi Karina! As someone who is in college to pursue a healthcare career, I would say patience and attention to little details. Patience is key in any field, honestly, but you just never know who you'll end up running into. It can be an easy-going patient, or maybe not too easy. We never know one's situation behind closed doors, so it's healthy to maintain a positive mindset while being patient with them.
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