A Reflective Essay on Effective Communication Skills in the Nursing Profession.
Name: Carmela Alitin
Student Number: n9713271
Unit: PYB007 Communication for Health Professionals
Tutor: Aleana Green
Tutorial: Thursdays 11am-1pm, Z-607
Word Count: 1,380
A Reflective Essay on Effective Communication Skills in the Nursing Profession
“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.
Reporting and Responding to the Interview
The interview was conducted with a registered nurse with more than 10 years’ experience. Her current role is working in the Medical Assessment and Planning Unit, in particular, the palliative care area. On a regular basis, her role involves providing safe and quality care to her patients, and more specifically end of life care. In doing so, two predominant skills of communication
This essay is set to explore the importance of developing effective communication skills in nursing. It will give a short overview on what communication is and what it involves. Then it will explain the importance of effective communication in nursing. Furthermore, the essay will briefly present some challenges surrounding communication in nursing and suggestions on how they can be addressed before it concludes by summarising the needs for nursing students to develop effective communication skills.
This paper will examine effective communication between the doctor and nurse working together to provide high quality, safe care. Nurses use a wide range of effective communication strategies and interpersonal skills to appropriately establish, maintain, re-establish and terminate the nurse-client relationship (College of Nurses of Ontario [CNO], 2009). While nurses and physicians are key members of the health care team facilitate quality care, many studies show breakdown in nurse-physician communication remains concern. This essay will discuss how ineffective communication can affect the overall health outcome to the patient and effective communication guide. The three barriers to nurse and physician communication are: traditional
Mr. Comer was admitted to his local community hospital for respite care. He has suffered multiple, acute strokes in the past, which has left him with severe disabilities. These include paralysis rendering him immobile, aphasia (speech loss) and dysphagia (swallowing difficulties). He relies on carers for all normal activities required for daily living (Roper et al 1996) and is advised to have a pureed diet and thickened fluids.
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.
The importance of communication is the essential foundation of nursing practise; it is primarily dependant upon verbal and non-verbal communication. Encompassing both speech and behavioural aspects, efficient delivery and receiving of the nurse-patient messages initiates advantageous relationships, or contrarily, generates significant repercussions if applied ineffectively, thus affecting the quality of the nurse-patient relationship. This essay will discuss how effective verbal and non-verbal communication in nursing practice will facilitate a mutually satisfying therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. It will firstly discuss verbal communication, followed on by the complementary non-verbal communication and lastly listening. However, for
Type 1 diabetes (T1DM), which accounts for 10%- 15% of all diabetes, is increasing in prevalence globally. According to Diabetes Australia (2015), diabetes becomes the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia among all other chronic illness such as heart disease or cancer. Although T1DM cannot be prevented or cured at the present as the exact cause of the disease is not yet fully understood, it can be managed with insulin injections or insulin pump (Diabetes Australia, 2015). However, a person with Down Syndrome (DS) and moderate intellectual disability (ID) will face more health challenges managing his chronic illness than those without ID or genetic condition. ICF model will be used to analyse this person’s activities limitation and participation restrictions in the essay. Finally, an effective nursing communication intervention will be applied by the community nurse to educate this 45 year old male to reduce risks of developing complications associated with T1DM.
It can be hard for nursing students to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical setting without some proper guidance and support. This paper will discuss a critical incident which occurred in Week 3 of my N308 clinical course. The incident was related to skilled communication and organized prioritization, which are topics covered in N307 seminar. From a nursing perspective, this incident made me realize the importance of effective communication, prioritisation, and management skills because disorganized care would pose a threat to patient’s safety and compliance with the fundamental principles listed in the CNA code of ethics (Canadian Nurses Association, 2017).
Change is the stage where all the ward team begin to decide their uncertainty that things will be different (Cummings and McLennan 2005). This is when effective communication flow will be established with the ward team to be on board with the change especially the hierarchical stakeholders leaders or managers (Palfrey 2006). It will develop a good rapport between the change agent to managers in order to brain storm these managers to belief in embracing this challenge and chance to execute the cover for the catheter stand and short with suspensor pocket for the suprapubic catheter leg bag would benefit the patients and the team. This will allow the managers to engaged and support the junior staffs to adapt the new skill as they are seen as role models (Porter-O' Grady 2003). This transitioned of these hierarchical leader controlled structure of empowerment will require a champion who will advocate, lead and implement the change within the unit and others (Kerfoot 2006). For example, the manager will mentor and
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the principles of nurse-patient communication and how these have been applied in my interactions with patients. Three methods that can be used to improve interdisciplinary communication will be described and one of these methods will be further explored on how it fits into my nursing practice. This paper will explore the ethical principles that can be used in nurse-patient communication, including the importance of ethics in communication. Additionally, this paper will discuss how communication affects patient safety.
Effective communication in the healthcare setting improves recovery rates and reduces pain and complication rates. (Wilkinson et al, 2003). Many complaints to the NHS are attributed to poor communication. Effective communication is reliant on the nurse working in partnership with the patient. It is essential that the nurse establishes a rapport and most of this will be achieved through the use of facial expressions. In my practice, it is important that develop a therapeutic relationship with the patients so that they can be able to put their trust in me. The therapeutic relationship is solely to meet the needs of the patient. In this relationship, there is a rapport established from a sense of mutual understanding and trust. To build a good nurse-patient relationship, I would have to show qualities of empathy, caring, sincerity and trustworthiness. During practice, if I am approaching a patient and the patient looks anxious, I should approach with empathy.
D-The patient was placed on HOLD and this writer cleared the HOLD. This writer addressed with the patient about her recent AWOL, referring to yesterday. According to the patient, she missed her medcab and did not have any other form of transportation. The patient was in tears as she also reported that she used crack cocaine (smoking) from 8/1/2016-08/4/2016. When asked as to how much she used, she says, " I spent $300 worth......I was doing so good, so good. I didn't want to use. It's too much." This writer asked the patient to what happen recently because during the last individual counseling session, the patient was clean from illicit drugs for a week and 3 days. According to the patient, her son had turned against and lied to her sister
In palliative care, communication is an important component because it facilitates the ability of patients and their families to express their fears and concerns, promotes effective assessment of needs, and the development of suitable care plans. Since palliative care focuses on providing comprehensive care to patients with life-threatening clinical conditions, communication is critical in the prognosis, treatment options, and clinical goals for these patients (Betcher, 2010).
Effective communication between the nurse and the client is vital to be able to provide essential care for each client individually. Through communication, the ability to exchange information, thoughts and feelings is achievable. Communication is a vital element in all areas of nursing, supporting activities such as prevention, rehabilitation, treatment, therapy, education and health promotion. This discussion will include effective communication, communication with a linguistically diverse client, the process of effective communication as well as the constraints and difficulties of communication.
Communication underpins every interaction between professionals and service users. It is vital to remember for this to be effective it is a two-way process that will help in the development of a professional relationship (National Health Service [NHS], 2015). Sheldon and Foust (2013) agrees but further this by stating effective communication also assists in health, growth and development. Communication is one of the six nursing core values known as the 6’C’s and is the foundation of the other five core values (Erica & Elaine, 2015). Higgs, Sefton, Street, McAllister & Hay (2005) agrees and further this by stating effective communication ensures the service user receives a positive outcome from medical professionals when accessing any medical assistance. Effective communication is not a skill that an individual acquires in daily life, therefore it is vital that
How often does a registered nurse effectively communicates the medication and the rationale and or importance for taking the medication to their patients? I chose goal nine from the fifteen Patient Safety Goals created by the The Joint Commission on Accreditation and HealthCare Organizations. Goal nine, or NPSG.03.06.01, focuses on maintaining and communicating accurate patient medication information. Whether it is from the physician to the nurse or the nurse to the patient. Lack of proper communication often leads to medications errors. In fact, in 1999, the Institute of Medicine estimated approximately 7,000 deaths are caused by medication errors annually. This can be a mixture of not being competent with medications, not effectively communicating