Registered Nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
Context coveredAcute, ambulatory, peri-operative, emergency, oncology, psychiatric, and school settings; charge and staff roles; care planning, medication administration, patient education.
- Vital signs and standard assessments — collect and document on stable patients on a med-surg unit.
- Hand hygiene and isolation precautions — apply consistently across patient encounters in acute care.
- Routine medications by established protocol — administer with preceptor verification on a staffed unit.
- Patient identifiers and safety checks — perform reliably before any procedure or administration.
- Charting in the electronic health record — enter assessments and intake/output accurately under review.
- Basic patient education materials — deliver on discharge topics with a senior nurse present.
- Specimen collection (blood, urine, culture) — obtain to protocol on a general medical floor.
- Pain scales and reassessment intervals — document according to unit standards on stable patients.
- Code blue and rapid response roles — recognize triggers and call for help in inpatient settings.
- Equipment (IV pumps, telemetry leads, pulse oximetry) — set up and verify with preceptor oversight.
- Multi-patient assignments — organize and prioritize on a routine med-surg shift with reduced oversight.
- Care plans for common diagnoses — draft and update from admission through discharge on a med-surg unit.
- IV access and infusion management — initiate and maintain on stable adult inpatients.
- High-alert medications — administer with double-checks in established acute-care protocols.
- Patient and family teaching — deliver on common conditions in inpatient and outpatient settings.
- Subtle changes in patient status — recognize and escalate appropriately on a familiar patient population.
- Interdisciplinary rounds — contribute patient updates and concerns on a general inpatient unit.
- Common procedures (Foley, NG tube, wound care) — perform independently on routine cases.
- Documentation for regulatory and billing requirements — complete accurately across a routine shift.
- New nursing students and orientees — guide on basic skills during clinical rotations.
- Complex, multi-system patients — assess, plan, and coordinate across an acute-care assignment.
- Deteriorating patients — anticipate, intervene, and lead initial response in inpatient settings.
- Specialty-area protocols (ED, OR, oncology, psych) — apply autonomously within scope of practice.
- Charge-nurse responsibilities — assign, flex, and support staff across a unit during a shift.
- Difficult conversations with patients and families — conduct on prognosis, goals of care, and consent.
- Conflict and resource issues during a shift — resolve in real time across the care team.
- Quality and safety concerns — identify, report, and follow through using unit and facility processes.
- New protocols and evidence-based practice changes — implement and coach on at the unit level.
- Preceptorship of new graduates — structure, evaluate, and progress over an orientation period.
- Cross-unit transfers and complex discharges — coordinate with case management and accepting teams.
- Clinical practice on a unit or service line — set, audit, and improve against national benchmarks.
- Unit-level quality and safety initiatives — design, lead, and evaluate across multidisciplinary teams.
- High-acuity, ambiguous cases — guide care decisions and frame ethical considerations across teams.
- Staffing models and skill mix — shape and defend at unit or service-line level with leadership.
- Mentorship and career development — provide for charge nurses, preceptors, and emerging leaders.
- Policy, protocol, and order-set development — author and revise in collaboration with medical staff.
- Regulatory readiness (Joint Commission, CMS) — prepare, lead, and represent the unit during surveys.
- Patient-experience and outcomes data — interpret and translate into practice changes at the unit level.
- Crisis events (code, mass casualty, behavioral emergencies) — direct response and debrief teams afterward.
- Strategic nursing practice across the service line — represent in committees and shape institutional direction.
AI-at-Work Competency Framework
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.Subscriber featureAuthoritative source data identified for 998 occupations
AI-at-Work Competency Framework
How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.
- AI-assisted documentation — uses AI tools to draft and format patient medical records and vital sign entries, then reviews each entry for clinical accuracy before submission Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
- Basic medication lookup delegation — queries an AI assistant for drug interaction references or dosage guidelines, confirming outputs against institutional formularies before patient administration.
- Clinical note augmentation — directs AI tools to generate structured nursing notes from verbal summaries or raw data inputs, editing the output to reflect observed patient condition and professional judgment Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
- Symptom-change flagging support — uses AI-assisted monitoring dashboards to surface alerts for changes in patient vitals or reported symptoms, then applies critical thinking to triage which alerts require immediate intervention Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
- Patient education drafting — hands off patient discharge instruction topics to an AI assistant to produce plain-language drafts, then personalizes content through active listening and direct conversation with the patient WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
- Care coordination documentation — leverages AI tools to synthesize multi-provider notes into cohesive care summaries, retaining authorship over clinical priorities and handoff decisions Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
- Protocol adherence checking — runs AI-generated checklists against standing orders for immunization schedules or rehabilitation protocols, cross-referencing outputs with real-time patient assessment before acting Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
- Adverse event narrative drafting — delegates initial incident report drafts to an AI assistant, then applies social perceptiveness and direct observation to supply contextual detail the AI cannot infer Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
- Time-saving triage of administrative load — offloads repetitive documentation and scheduling queries to AI tools, recapturing an estimated 40 percent of task time for direct patient care activities Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
- AI output governance — evaluates AI-generated clinical recommendations and documentation for bias, omission, and contextual fit, establishing unit-level standards for when AI outputs require mandatory nurse override Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
- Interdisciplinary AI workflow design — leads the mapping of AI tool integration into multidisciplinary care pathways, defining clear handoff boundaries between automated documentation and human clinical judgment across the care team WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab. Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
- Quality and safety audit of AI use — audits AI-assisted nursing records and alert logs for systematic errors, feeding findings back into institutional AI adoption policy to protect patient safety outcomes Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
- Mentorship in human-technology interaction — coaches emerging nurses on distinguishing reliable AI-augmented outputs from those requiring clinical override, embedding critical evaluation into unit orientation programs WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
- AEI usage
- Task observations: 18Augment share: 76.4%Time saved: 40.9%AI autonomy: 0.24
- SAFI positioning
- Top skill: Social PerceptivenessScore: 51.5 / 100Quadrant: Q2_ai_augmentedprecision: exact
- WEF cluster
- Human-Technology Interactionhuman_technology_interaction
Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework
Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework
Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.
1Communication12 statements
- Patient history documentation — records basic vital signs and medical information using standard forms and terminology in clinical settings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Verbal patient interaction — conveys simple care instructions to patients and families using plain language during routine encounters Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Team reporting — delivers basic shift handoff information to nursing colleagues using structured formats such as SBAR O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Symptom elicitation — gathers detailed symptom histories through structured patient interviews while adapting questioning style to patient comprehension level Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Care plan communication — explains medication schedules, treatment procedures, and discharge instructions to patients and caregivers with clarity and appropriate detail O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Interdisciplinary reporting — communicates changes in patient condition to physicians and care team members with accurate clinical language and timely escalation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Therapeutic communication — establishes rapport with distressed or vulnerable patients by applying active listening, empathy, and nonverbal cues to support psychological safety during care delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Documentation excellence — maintains precise, legally compliant patient records that accurately reflect assessments, interventions, and outcomes across complex multi-diagnosis cases O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Family-centered communication — translates clinical findings and care decisions into accessible language for diverse family members, including culturally and health-literacy-adapted explanations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Clinical communication leadership — models and coaches junior nurses in evidence-based communication frameworks, including motivational interviewing and trauma-informed approaches, across high-acuity units Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Systemic advocacy communication — authors care protocols, patient education materials, and interdepartmental memos that standardize communication quality across the nursing unit Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Crisis communication — leads family conferences and difficult conversations regarding end-of-life, adverse events, or complex diagnoses with composure, clarity, and compassionate precision Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
2Leadership11 statements
- Task ownership — takes personal responsibility for completing assigned patient care tasks accurately and on time within a supervised clinical environment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Peer support — offers assistance to nursing aides and less-experienced staff when workload and competency permit during routine shifts O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Delegation initiation — assigns appropriate patient care tasks to nursing assistants and unlicensed personnel based on scope of practice and patient acuity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Charge readiness — demonstrates awareness of unit-level patient flow, staffing needs, and resource allocation in preparation for charge nurse responsibilities O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Initiative in care gaps — identifies unmet patient needs and initiates corrective actions without waiting for explicit direction from supervisors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Unit supervision — directs daily operations of a nursing unit including staff task coordination, patient assignments, and real-time problem resolution during full shifts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Mentorship delivery — guides newly licensed nurses and student nurses through clinical decision-making processes, skill demonstrations, and professional conduct expectations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Care team coordination — leads interdisciplinary rounds by organizing nursing input, facilitating care plan updates, and ensuring follow-through on assigned team responsibilities O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Transformational unit leadership — shapes nursing unit culture through visible role modeling, accountability structures, and recognition systems that elevate team performance and patient outcomes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Policy and practice leadership — leads quality improvement initiatives, protocol revisions, and accreditation preparation efforts that drive measurable unit-wide change Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Workforce development leadership — designs and implements onboarding, preceptorship, and continuing education programs that build sustained nursing team capability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition10 statements
- Self-assessment of clinical gaps — identifies specific areas of clinical knowledge or skill that require further development after patient care encounters or evaluations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Reflection initiation — reviews personal performance after complex patient situations to identify what went well and what could be improved Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Learning strategy application — selects targeted resources such as clinical guidelines, simulation labs, or preceptor feedback to address identified knowledge deficits in nursing practice Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Error pattern recognition — notices recurring mistakes in documentation, medication administration, or assessment and adjusts personal practice strategies accordingly Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Self-monitoring during care — tracks cognitive load and decision quality in real time during high-pressure situations to prevent errors of omission or haste Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Clinical reasoning transparency — articulates the rationale behind nursing assessments and intervention choices to students and peers, making cognitive processes explicit and teachable Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Adaptive learning planning — constructs personalized continuing education plans aligned with unit specialty demands, patient population complexity, and individual performance feedback Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Assumption identification — recognizes when clinical judgments are based on heuristics or biases and deliberately revisits patient data before finalizing assessments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Metacognitive modeling — coaches nursing staff in reflective practice techniques, including structured debriefs and learning journals, to build team-wide self-regulatory skill Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Systems-level cognitive awareness — identifies organizational conditions such as staffing ratios and shift length that impair collective clinical reasoning and advocates for structural changes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking11 statements
- Assessment data collection — gathers and records objective patient data including vital signs, intake and output, and reported symptoms using standardized tools Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Protocol application — follows established clinical protocols and care pathways to guide basic nursing interventions in routine patient scenarios O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Clinical pattern recognition — identifies clusters of signs and symptoms that indicate deteriorating patient status and escalates to appropriate clinical personnel Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Evidence evaluation — compares patient presentation against current evidence-based guidelines to select appropriate nursing interventions among available options Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Medication safety reasoning — evaluates medication orders for appropriateness by cross-referencing patient allergies, diagnoses, dosing parameters, and contraindications before administration O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Complex patient analysis — synthesizes multisystem assessment data, laboratory results, and patient history to form comprehensive nursing diagnoses for high-acuity patients Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Judgment under pressure — makes rapid, sound nursing decisions in emergent situations by weighing available evidence, patient risk, and resource constraints simultaneously Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Assumption challenging — questions physician orders or care team decisions when clinical evidence or patient status suggests a different course of action, using structured escalation processes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Clinical reasoning program development — designs case-based learning experiences and simulation scenarios that build critical thinking capacity across nursing staff Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Outcomes-driven protocol critique — evaluates existing unit protocols against current research and patient outcome data, proposing evidence-based revisions to clinical leadership Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Systems error analysis — leads root cause analyses of adverse events, identifying systemic and cognitive factors that contributed to clinical errors and recommending preventive measures Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration10 statements
- Team role clarity — demonstrates understanding of own nursing scope of practice relative to physicians, aides, therapists, and other care team members during daily patient care Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Respectful participation — contributes observations and questions during team huddles and care conferences without dominating or withdrawing from discussion Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Interdisciplinary coordination — collaborates with physical therapists, social workers, dietitians, and pharmacists to implement and adjust comprehensive patient care plans Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Conflict navigation — addresses disagreements with team members about patient care decisions using constructive dialogue and shared patient-outcome focus Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Cross-shift continuity — facilitates smooth patient transitions between shifts by sharing complete, accurate information and clarifying pending care needs with oncoming nurses O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Care plan co-creation — contributes substantive nursing perspective to interdisciplinary care planning meetings, ensuring nursing assessments shape treatment decisions across specialties Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Diverse team integration — adapts communication and workflow approaches to function effectively with team members across cultural backgrounds, professional disciplines, and experience levels Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Resource coordination — coordinates patient access to community health resources, specialist referrals, and ancillary services by building effective working relationships with internal and external partners O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Collaborative culture building — establishes norms of psychological safety, shared accountability, and mutual respect within the nursing unit that sustain high-functioning team collaboration Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Cross-functional project leadership — leads multidisciplinary task forces focused on patient safety, quality improvement, or care standardization initiatives across departments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
6Character10 statements
- Patient confidentiality adherence — protects patient health information in accordance with HIPAA regulations and facility policy in all verbal and written interactions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Professional conduct — maintains punctuality, appropriate attire, and respectful demeanor toward patients, families, and colleagues consistently during clinical duties Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Accountability in error reporting — discloses own clinical errors or near-misses to supervisors and documents them accurately without minimization or concealment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Ethical care delivery — provides equitable, compassionate care to all patients regardless of diagnosis, background, behavior, or personal values Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Boundary maintenance — upholds appropriate professional boundaries with patients and families, redirecting relationships that risk therapeutic integrity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Moral courage in advocacy — advocates for patient rights, safety, and dignity when care decisions or team behaviors conflict with ethical standards, using formal escalation pathways if necessary Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Consistent professionalism — demonstrates reliability, honesty, and ethical judgment uniformly across high-stress, low-supervision, and high-visibility situations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Culturally humble care — recognizes and actively mitigates personal biases in clinical assessment and care delivery to ensure equitable patient treatment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Ethical leadership modeling — guides nursing staff through complex ethical dilemmas involving end-of-life decisions, informed consent, or resource allocation using structured ethical reasoning frameworks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Integrity culture cultivation — establishes and reinforces unit norms of transparency, accountability, and ethical practice through visible behavior, peer recognition, and formal feedback processes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
7Creativity10 statements
- Adaptive care delivery — adjusts standard nursing procedures to accommodate individual patient physical limitations or preferences within safe practice boundaries Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Problem identification — notices inefficiencies in unit workflows or patient care routines and raises them as areas for potential improvement Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Patient engagement innovation — develops individualized approaches to patient education and motivation when standard methods fail to achieve adherence or comprehension Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Workaround design — constructs safe, effective improvised solutions when standard equipment or supplies are unavailable in clinical settings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Care plan individualization — tailors nursing care plans to account for unique patient psychosocial, cultural, and clinical factors beyond standardized protocols Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Process improvement ideation — generates and pilots novel workflow solutions to reduce patient wait times, medication errors, or documentation burden on the unit Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Community health program design — develops creative health promotion or disease prevention initiatives tailored to specific patient populations in school, industrial, or community settings Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Simulation scenario creation — constructs realistic, novel clinical training scenarios that expose nursing staff to rare or high-risk patient situations in controlled learning environments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Innovation leadership — champions and scales creative clinical or operational improvements from unit-level pilots to hospital-wide implementation through structured change management Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Cross-disciplinary solution synthesis — integrates nursing knowledge with insights from technology, psychology, and public health to design novel models of patient-centered care delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset10 statements
- Feedback receptivity — accepts constructive criticism from preceptors and charge nurses regarding clinical skills or documentation without defensiveness Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Challenge acceptance — volunteers for unfamiliar patient assignments or procedures as opportunities to expand clinical competency Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Skill development persistence — practices challenging clinical procedures such as IV insertion or wound care assessment repeatedly until proficiency is achieved Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Learning from adverse events — participates constructively in post-incident debriefs, extracting personal learning rather than attributing all error to system factors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Continuing education engagement — pursues certifications, specialty training, and evidence-based practice updates beyond minimum mandatory requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Complexity embrace — seeks assignment to high-acuity or unfamiliar patient populations to accelerate clinical learning and expand professional versatility Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Feedback integration — systematically applies supervisor and peer feedback to observable behavioral changes in clinical practice over defined timeframes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Resilient recovery — returns to full clinical effectiveness following difficult patient outcomes, critical incidents, or performance feedback without prolonged functional disruption Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Learning culture leadership — creates unit-level structures such as journal clubs, peer review processes, and skills fairs that normalize continuous learning and professional growth for all nursing staff Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Mastery mindset modeling — publicly shares own learning goals, developmental struggles, and growth achievements to normalize vulnerability and effort-based improvement among nursing peers Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness10 statements
- Present-moment patient focus — maintains attentive, undistracted engagement with each patient during assessments and care interactions despite competing unit demands Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Emotional state awareness — recognizes personal emotional reactions to stressful patient situations and takes brief regulation steps before continuing care Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Intentional attention management — prioritizes patient monitoring and care tasks deliberately during high-census or multi-patient assignment periods to prevent missed assessments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Stress response regulation — applies breathing, grounding, or brief recovery techniques during high-pressure clinical moments to maintain decision-making quality Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Emotional contagion management — maintains calm, regulated demeanor in patient rooms and team interactions even when exposed to distress, conflict, or traumatic situations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Situational awareness — sustains continuous environmental and patient monitoring across an entire shift, detecting early warning signs through consistent attentional discipline Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Compassion fatigue prevention — identifies personal signs of emotional depletion and proactively uses restorative practices to sustain therapeutic presence with patients Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Intentional communication — pauses to fully comprehend patient or team member communications before responding, reducing misinterpretation errors in clinical interactions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Mindful unit culture development — introduces structured mindfulness and resilience practices into unit routines such as pre-shift briefings or post-code debriefs that improve collective team regulation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Mindfulness mentorship — coaches nursing staff in attention regulation and emotional management techniques that reduce clinical errors and sustain compassionate care under sustained workload pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude10 statements
- Task completion under discomfort — completes required nursing tasks including wound care, catheterization, or code participation despite personal emotional difficulty or physical fatigue Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Uncertainty tolerance — continues providing safe, attentive patient care when clinical outcomes are ambiguous or when supervisor guidance is temporarily unavailable Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Sustained performance under load — maintains clinical accuracy and patient safety standards across extended shifts with high patient census or acuity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Adverse outcome endurance — resumes effective professional functioning after patient deterioration, death, or clinical setback without prolonged withdrawal from duties Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Difficult conversation persistence — follows through on delivering unwelcome health information or care decisions to patients and families despite emotional resistance or distress responses Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Crisis stability — leads or participates in rapid response, code, or mass casualty events with sustained clinical competence, calm decision-making, and physical endurance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Long-term patient advocacy persistence — maintains consistent advocacy for complex patients navigating system barriers, insurance denials, or care fragmentation over extended care episodes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
- Moral distress resilience — continues providing ethical, high-quality care during periods of systemic understaffing, institutional conflict, or moral injury without abandoning professional standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Organizational resilience leadership — guides nursing teams through prolonged institutional stressors such as pandemic response, staffing crises, or facility restructuring while sustaining team morale and patient safety Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
- Courage in systemic advocacy — escalates unsafe staffing, practice, or policy conditions through formal institutional and regulatory channels despite professional risk, on behalf of patients and staff Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Show O*NET source anchors63 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com
O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com
Suggest an O*NET correctionSource anchors that ground each statement
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.