The number of internationally educated nurses (IENs) who have joined the Canadian healthcare workforce has steadily increased since the mid-twentieth century. In the literature, IENs are often perceived as lacking "soft skills". This study explored IENs' interpretations of soft skills, and how they resist the soft skills discourse in their nursing practice. Data were collected from interviews with IENs from India, Pakistan and the Philippines who work as registered nurses (RNs) in Canada and analysed through the lens of "governmentality" and "technologies of the self." Findings show that IENs perceive nursing procedures ("hard skills") as inseparable from soft skills. Confronting the soft skills discourse, IENs provide holistic patient-centred care. Contrary to the deficit perspective, they demonstrate sophisticated communication and interaction skills. IENs use their transcultural knowledge and multilingual abilities to challenge the English-only policy in healthcare settings and meet the needs of patients from diverse backgrounds. This study suggests that there is a need to recognise, value and utilise IENs' skills, knowledge and experience in Canadian healthcare.