Nonverbal Communication In Nursing Essay

“Effective communication is integral in every profession, but in nursing, it could mean the difference between life and death,” (E.S Alitin, personal communication, 31 March, 2016). Effective communication is a skill that must be adopted as it is a means in achieving optimal outcome in all professions. To demonstrate this, I recently had the opportunity to interview a professional in nursing to discuss the important role of effective communication and how this may help me for my future profession as a lawyer. Using the 4 R’s model, the following essay will present this topic, highlighting the influence of communication in developing respectful relationships with both patients and colleagues in the workplace.

Not all patients (or staff) are comfortable with using touch but I soon realised the boundaries with each individual patient.

Nurses and family members need to speak slowly and clearly, in a low pitched voice, maintaining an open friendly communication manner and also using eye contact and touch. Speaking slowly is very important as it allows patients who can’t have a conversation to understand you better, patients with dementia take longer to process information and sentences, so speaking style such as emotion, sound volume and what you say can be the difference between a patient with dementia understanding you and not. It slowly allows the patients enough time to take the words in and process the sentence. Speaking clearly and in a calm voice will help reassure the patient and help them cope with following your words. Speaking clearly and calmly will help relax the patient. A nurse should avoid speaking sharply or raising their voice, as this may distress the person even if they can't follow the sense of your words. Low pitched voice is used to calm the patient and not bring about any distress or frighten them. Low pitched tone can be used to sooth the patient if in any distress. Gaining eye contact with a patient is very important, if they are sitting down kneeling down at there level can be of benefit so they no you are there. This allows the nurse to get their attention and help them focus on the conversation without scaring them. Maintaining eye contact while speaking with the patient can also be of benefit. Love and affection can

When the nurse’s verbal and nonverbal interactions are congruent, he or she is thought to be expressing which characteristic of a therapeutic relationship?

Chapter  4  –  Nonverbal  Communication 1. What  are  the  functions  of  nonverbal  messages? ● Substitute ● complement  verbal  messages:  adds  to  verbal  message,  improves  clarity  and  understanding ● contradict:  non  verbal  behavior  not  reflecting  verbal  message 2. Know  the  different  codes  (i.e.,  kinesics,  haptics,  proxemics,  vocalics,  chronemics,  and  self-­ presentation  cues). Code  1  -­  Kinesics  /  Use  of  the  body ● Gestures ○ Emblems  -­  gestures  with  explicit  meaning  and  dictionary  definitions ○ Illustrator  -­  gestures  that  accompany  verbal  message ○ Adaptors  -­  Touching  behaviors  that  reveal  internal  states  such  as  anxiety ■ self  adaptors ■ object  adaptors  -­  handling  of  objects ■ other  adaptors  -­  touching  other  people ● Eye  contact  /  Oculesics ○ both  people  are  looking  directly  into  each  others  eyes ● Functions ○ regulates  interaction ○ monitors  interaction ○ signals  cognitive  activity ○ expresses  involvement

In this essay I will recall and describe my experience in a health care environment and reflect on communication in that interaction. I will look into interpersonal and communication skills used by the health professional and what I learned from this interaction. And if I am going to use those skills in my future nursing practice.

Therapeutic communication is the basis to maintain a proper nurse patient relationship. Furthermore, understanding that therapeutic communication which is so vital, patient’s literacy level is also crucial in the communication process. Boykins D., 2014 states that “individuals that experience health literacy problems receive less preventative care and have poor understanding of health problems and care”. A nurse assesses each patients’ literacy level upon their first interaction, she also uses therapeutic communication to build a strong nurse patient relationship. Therapeutic communication can be verbal and nonverbal, both equally important to help build a bridge for communication. An example of nonverbal therapeutic communication would be silence; in some cultures, silence is a norm and a way of thinking. With a precise assessment and proper

The employee reported by nursing staff members utilizing an unprofessional demeanor, confrontational, provides poor communication and work performance in her role as a PCS working on the unit. Staff reports it's difficult to communicate with her during shift report, she does not perform shift rounds, and frequently leave her patients soiled and in a clutter environment.

This essay will highlight one of the key concepts of nursing .The concept that will be discussed in this essay will be communication, the reason for this chosen concept is that communication plays a vital role in everyday occurrences which defines how a situation is perceived by yourself, others and how communication is effectively handled . There will be a definition on what communication is also an evaluation of the chosen concept will be explored throughout this essay.

Examples of non-verbal communication often noticed by the team during these visits can include lack of eye contact, hunched posture, and silence, to name a few. The lack of eye contact for some cultures is a sign respect, but for others is an insult. Similarly, the use of caring facial expressions, for many, conveys a positive connection, whereas hunched posture may reflect indifference or pain (Luquis, 2014). The use of silence for some hospice patients is a sign of reflection yet for others is a sign of overload. The interpretation of nonverbal communication and behaviors may differ between various cultures and can be the cause of many communication issues if misinterpreted (Luquis,

As a nurse, communication is an essential and important factor to building a therapeutic relationship between a nurse and patient as it is the difference between average and excellent nursing care, as it helps maintain a good quality of life and allows nurses’ and patients to interact and provide comfort when needed. The importance of good communication can become apparent with patients especially when they are in the hospital, as it helps the nurses build a positive relationship with patients and helps overcome barriers including physical, psychological and social. A therapeutic relationship is built on many factors which include both verbal and non-verbal communication which helps maintains the relationship and strengthens it due to the positive impact it has not only on the patient’s experience but also the nurse’s.

Non-verbal communication is defined as the aspect of communication that information is exchanged through non-verbal cues. The nurse had showed minimal respect towards Peter and had spoken at a poor tone of voice. The use of facial expressions when interacting with patients is important as it expresses respect, empathy and attention (Mast, MS. 2007). Para-verbal communication refers to messages that are said through tone, pitch, and pace; along with verbal communication, this had assisted in my approach to Peter. In many situations when interacting with patients, it is how the speech is said and not what is said as a sentence can express different meanings depending on the emphasis on the words and tone of voice (Brindley, P. G

Nonverbal communication is perhaps the most important way we communicate with each other. Types of nonverbal communication include gestures, facial expression, and posture (McCorry & Mason, 2011). Nonverbal communication is constantly used in healthcare to express feelings, give direction, and to indicate comprehension. During wayfinding, I had the opportunity to use my knowledge of nonverbal communication skills to help two patients. The first instance that I used nonverbal communication skills was with an elderly gentleman who needed the hospital room number of a good friend. The clerk at the information desk had difficulty explaining to the gentleman the location of his friend’s room. I

McCabe C. (2004) Nurse-patient communication: an exploration of patients’ experiences. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 13, 41-49.

Nurses must assess a patient’s communication needs with respect to their age, gender, culture, developmental status and be able to modify their care related to these needs. This also is a consideration when communicating with those around us daily.