It is imperative for nurses to develop communication competence in order to discharge their duties efficiently and create a good rapport with patients and colleagues (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014). Therefore, nurses ought to strive to expand their communication skills adequately and master ways of delivering important information efficiently and induce the positive immediate reaction to the message delivered. Notably, efficient communication strategies both personal and interpersonal in the professional setting or at informal environment promote a healthy environment where a nurse can express his/her needs and concern effectively (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014). This, in the long run, have the effect of reducing tension, stress, conflicts and promote wellness at the workplace and maintain professionalism. Additionally, effective communication helps a nurse offer an adequate education to patients, for instance, on how to live a healthy life, follow discharge instructions on aftercare activities and how to take prescribed medication. On the other hand, efficient communication helps a nurse to relate well with colleagues at the workplace. Notably, interdisciplinary teams are currently a must in the healthcare system. Thus, it is vital for a nurse to know how to engage colleagues in a constructive conversation on how to offer holistic care to meet the needs of patients. Furthermore, developing adequate communication and interpersonal skills will enable me to achieve my ultimate goal of being a nurse manager. To successfully achieve this leadership and managerial goal, I have to become an efficient communicator and address issues which can be a barrier to communicating such as body language, the tone of the voice, style of delivering information and listening habits.
Effective communicator
Proper communication in a healthcare system is vital to achieving success and possible best outcomes in interventions taken to address the plight of the patients and desires of health practitioners (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014). Additionally, good communication ensures a nurse prosper in their career since it enables a nurse to create healthy relations with colleagues and excellent rapport with patients (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014) Therefore, nurses who desire to advance their career in the healthcare sector have no option but strive to be an excellent communicator. This skill helps a nurse to demonstrate compassion, courtesy, love and sincerity through spoken words (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014). Hence, it is critical to assess our body language and tone variation to ensure we deliver the intended message appropriately and provoke a response. The tone and body language will demonstrate the seriousness and gravity of the information being communicated and the kind of response being expected from the recipient. Additionally, chosen words have to be acceptable, appropriate and understandable in the healthcare settings. Patients look up to nurses for proper guidelines and advice on how to live a quality life away from illness, avoiding factors which lead to occurrences of certain illnesses and adapting a healthy lifestyle. Thus, the information a nurse will give a patient has to have value and content which can help a patient (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014).
On the other hand, a nurse ought to create an environment which is conducive to share information. The kind of words we use on a daily basis will demonstrate to colleagues our interest or hostility when it comes to communicating. Moreover, conflicts in the workplace are unavoidable due to the diversity of the healthcare system (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014). Thus, health practitioners may have differences in ideology, values, culture and spirituality. However, these differences can be overcome by creating a good atmosphere to share views without prejudice. Thus, leaders in the health care have to provide an avenue for dialogue where practitioners can discuss an issue in harmony and arrive at the consensus which provides a win-win scenario for the conflicting parties. Consequently, to achieve my dream goal of being an effective and innovative leader throughout my career, I have to develop efficient communication skills. This can be achieved by various means such as going back to school to learn about communication, doing research on how to be a good communicator, ask for assistance from colleagues and practicing the skills I have identified which will enhance my communication competence.
IOM competence
The institute of medicine has recommended five competencies which all caregiver must comply with to ensure safety, quality, and satisfaction of patients are not compromise in the healthcare setting. Initially, there was the wide gap in meeting the needs of the patient and quality of care delivered was deplorable hence cases of clinical errors, near misses, readmission, and hospital-acquire infections and unsatisfied patients were the common phenomena (O'Leary et al., 2012). However, these competence are desired to improve the health care system to ensure quality standards are improved, there is patient involvement in the design of care plan, health practitioners take collective responsibility for giving care, patients are given a comprehensive care that meets their needs and there is room to apply evidence-base practice by having clear records by incorporating informatics discipline in healthcare system (O'Leary et al., 2012).
Interdisciplinary teams
Interdisciplinary teams are critical in providing holistic care to the patient (O'Leary et al., 2012). Additionally, since these teams are made up of professionals from different specialists, who ensure the recommended care to a particular patient is well thought and it has captured the desires of the patient by designing a care plan that is customized to patient’s specific needs (O'Leary et al., 2012). Therefore, communication is critical in this set up to ensure the members of the team know their role and what activities they ought to undertake to ensure the success of the team. Thus, it is crucial that members share their expertise, experience and observations during patient’s assessment discussion to ensure all facts are deliberated upon and the team comes with a care plan that inexhaustibly address patient’s requirements and guarantees optimal outcomes (Derry et al., 2014). Furthermore, to ensure the team members collaborate throughout the lifespan of the team, it is necessary to employee effective and innovative leadership coupled with effective communication. Thus, the leader of the team must create a healthy environment where team members can discuss issues and negotiate on how to deliver holistic care to a certain patient. Additionally, efficient communications skills will help the leader to delegate duties equitably depending on a person’s abilities. This will help the team manage its time efficiently since conflicts and differences will be solved amicably through effective dialogues among the members under the supervision of the team leader. The team leader has to observe and assess the dynamics of the team and offer proper instructions on how the team can navigate through these dynamics which have the potential of hampering the team from achieving its goals.
My Smart goal
My goal is to become an effective, innovative leader throughout my career, be an efficient communicator and be on the forefront in leading interdisciplinary team in enhancing delivery of holistic care by creating conducive environment to share information and I intend to conduct comprehensive research on necessary communications skills in leading team to success and elevating my leadership potential in six weeks.
Specific
Measurable
For my plan to be a success every step has to be evaluated to identify the milestones have made towards my goal (Henry and Wysocki, 2015). Thus, the measurement, in this case, will cover the materials have managed to access and utilize in advancing my knowledge. The number of conflicts with colleagues I have managed to negotiate and solve amicably. The hours I have spent in class learning new skills in leadership also counts in my journey to my dream.
Attainable
Accessing learning materials, completing my course in leadership and being allowed to practice in disciplinary teams will ascertain attainability of my goals (Henry and Wysocki, 2015). Change of my communication technique by incorporating new vocabulary which I have learned from the research I carried out will indicate my ambition is coming true.
Relevant
My goal is relevant in the contemporary healthcare systems since it calls for a patient-centered setting where patients have to be included in every step in care delivery. Thus, nurses ought to be an excellent communicator to pass valuable information to patients. Institute of Medicine is pushing for implementation of interdisciplinary teams to offer adequate care patients and minimize chances of errors or unsafe practices.
Time
The time allocated to learning these new skills is efficient since it is necessary to develop these skills urgently to meet the needs of the patients (TechRepublic, 2015).
Conclusion
Interdisciplinary teams play a critical role in health care insuring comprehensive care is given to patient and safety is maintained at all time. However, for the teams to succeed efficient communication is necessary. Therefore, leaders ought to arm themselves with necessary knowledge on how to communicate effectively and create a healthy environment where practitioners can communicate with ease.
Reference
Derry, S. J., Schunn, C. D., & Gernsbacher, M. A. (Eds.). (2014).Interdisciplinary collaboration: An emerging cognitive science. Psychology Press.
Henry M. Cothran and Allen F. Wysocki. (2015). FE577/FE577: Developing SMART Goals for Your Organization. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe577
Kourkouta, L., & Papathanasiou, I. V. (2014). Communication in nursing practice. Materia socio-medica, 26(1), 65.
O'Leary, K. J., Sehgal, N. L., Terrell, G., & Williams, M. V. (2012). Interdisciplinary teamwork in hospitals: a review and practical recommendations for improvement. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 7(1), 48-54.
TechRepublic. (2015). Use S.M.A.R.T. goals to launch management by objectives plan - TechRepublic. Retrieved from http://www.techrepublic.com/article/use-smart-goals-to-launch-management-by-objectives-plan/
