ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND IMPACT OF THE USE OF SOFT SKILLS AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN BENSON IDAHOSA UNIVERSITY, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the Knowledge, Attitude, and Impact of the Use of Soft Skills among Nursing Students at Benson Idahosa University, Benin City. The purpose was to assess students’ understanding, perception, and application of soft skills such as communication, empathy, teamwork, adaptability, and professionalism, which are essential for effective and compassionate nursing care. Despite their importance, soft skills are often underemphasized in Nigerian nursing education, leaving students inadequately prepared for the interpersonal and emotional demands of healthcare practice. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The study population consisted of 600 nursing students from 200 to 500 level, from which a sample size of 240 respondents was selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered online questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that the majority of respondents (79.6%) possessed good knowledge of soft skills, and 84.2% recognized them as equally important as clinical skills. Most participants (76.6%) reported consciously applying soft skills during clinical postings, while 75% expressed confidence when using them with patients. However, major barriers included lack of mentorship (77.1%), heavy academic workload (68.8%), and shyness or anxiety during communication (68.8%). Hypothesis testing showed significant relationships between knowledge and use of soft skills (p = 0.02) and between attitude and perceived impact (p = 0.01). The study concluded that nursing students are knowledgeable and positively disposed toward soft skills but lack structured training and mentorship for full application. It recommends integrating formal soft skills training, mentorship programs, and continuous assessments into the nursing curriculum to enhance professional competence, teamwork, and patient-centered care. Keywords: Soft skills, knowledge, attitude, nursing students, clinical performance, Benson Idahosa University.

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urn:uuid:2ab7ac5e-6dde-452f-bc37-572d7aef9cc8