Which of the following skills is essential for nurses practicing in home settings?

The essential skill for nurses practicing in home settings is being technically proficient and self-motivated. This is crucial because home health nurses often operate with a high degree of autonomy and need to manage their time and resources effectively while providing care. They may be the sole healthcare provider for patients, requiring them to possess a broad range of technical skills in areas such as wound care, medication management, and disease monitoring.

Self-motivation is equally important since these nurses must often make independent decisions and proactively address patient needs without direct supervision. This capacity for self-direction enables them to adapt to various situations in the home environment, where circumstances can change rapidly and require a quick response to ensure patient safety and effective care.

In contrast, although strong administrative skills and the ability to work in teams are beneficial, they are not as critical in home health settings where the nurse may frequently work alone. Similarly, being an expert in pharmaceutical care is important but is one aspect of the broader technical proficiency necessary to handle the diverse needs encountered in home health nursing.