Exploring the development of non-technical skills in pre-registration nursing students: A qualitative descriptive study

Nursing education should intentionally integrate students' lived experiences into the development of NTS, explicitly teach emotional intelligence as a core component of non-technical competency, and design simulations that foster emotional realism. Recognising the interdependence between NTS and TS will better prepare students for the emotional and relational complexity of real-world nursing practice, ultimately enhancing resilience, adaptability, and humanistic care.