Communication in Nursing
Communication
Argumentative Essay
Introduction
Communication encompasses a significant role in the nursing practices given the need for constant and clear interaction with the patients when providing care services. Furthermore, the areas of intervention, therapy, treatment, and health promotion rely on effective communication in order to develop strong interpersonal relationship with clients and stakeholders. Lastly, communication also provides opportunity in building competencies, collaboration, and teamwork. The discussion will demonstrate the key arguments about the importance of effective communication skills in various areas of nursing practice. In addition, the discussion will also determine the role of communication in enhancing interpersonal relationship between nurses and patients. At this point, it can be assumed that developing core competencies using the principles of communication, therapeutic communication, and informatics can enhance interpersonal relationship and improve outcomes.
Communication can be described as a bilateral process of exchanging information through various channels in a language that the receiver and source of information can both understand. There are basic principles applied in the communication process such as knowing the topic, knowing the purpose of information exchange, and knowing the audience. Some may argue that communication is not integral in the process of providing care because the instructions and procedures are exchanged between the clinician and the nurse. However, letting the patient know what involves in the care procedures, the considerations, and the outcomes enable the patient to exercise autonomy, which is part of the ethical practice of nursing. In this sense, communication and its principles are integral in the effective care delivery.
Furthermore, effective communication also involves therapeutic communication where the care provider offers self, actively listens, provide broad openings, exploring, and encourage decision. In contrast to therapeutic communication, the non-therapeutic approach in communication involves demonstrating defensiveness, arguing, providing literal response, giving unprofessional remarks, and among others. The term therapeutic implies that the manner of communicating should contribute in the patient’s recovery outcomes instead of creating a more stressful environment for the patient . When in practice, therapeutic communication is apparently different in terms of demonstrating the interaction between nurses and colleagues and the patient. The therapeutic communication practice in interacting with the patient is geared towards aiding faster recovery. In contrast to the manner of interaction that therapeutic communication creates between nurses and colleagues, it involves an exchange of perceived effective practices and development of approaches towards patient recovery.
It can be argued that the purpose of therapeutic communication in interpersonal interaction between nurses and patient is to emphasize communication as an instrument that aids treatment. Another important aspect of effective communication is the use of information technology in which the exchange of information was aided by a form of technology. An example of the integrated role of informatics in communication is by allowing the patients to access helpful information on platforms such as mobile and web. The three aspects of effective communication are not only limited within the nurse and patient interaction, but is also important in the professional work environment particularly in the collaboration process . In terms of the difference in interaction, informatics as a form of communication between nurses and patient through the use of available technological platform.
In contrast to nurse and colleague interaction, informatics is a form of communication that enables collaboration. Through the use of information technology, nurses and clinicians are able to communicate and share findings about the patient’s condition and use the information as the basis of the decision-making process toward the patient’s treatment approach. Communication is an elemental skill for the nurse, to provide adequate care, build trust and provide satisfactory outcomes . The everyday interaction between co-workers strengthens teamwork, but any existence of potential problems in communication with co-workers and patients is likely to affect work outcomes, decision-making and problem solving. On the other hand, barriers do exist that comes in the way of effective communication. For example, differences in ethnic background may construe effective communication because of the language barrier. However, developing effective communication skills by leaning other language approach may improve the communication exchange, particularly in providing patient education or even for patient with hearing problems non-English speakers.
SOAP and SBAR are also professional nursing practice where communication is used to prompt an effective exchange between healthcare workers and patients . According to Pepper’s (2014), the quality of communication between the nurse and the client is an essential determinant of a successful provider-to-patient relationship. This is because communication addresses the four standards of nursing practice such as environmental health, implementation, collaboration, and assessment . In relation to patient interaction, communicating and having a positive interaction increases their chance of survival as they develop a more positive attitude towards their health, hence, the process of recovery is quicker. On the other hand, the role of communication in nurse interaction with colleagues is to enable collaboration and effective care delivery .
Conclusion
Effective communication skills an important aspect of nursing practice as care delivery should also involve creating a positive interpersonal relationship with the patient. Developing effective communication skills increases patient outcomes, enables adequate care, minimizes errors, and enhances the nurses’ core competencies. Therefore, professional nursing practices should also focus on developing communication skills to become an effective care provider.
References
Boykins, D. (2014). Core Communication Competencies in Patient-Centered Care. ABNF Journal , 1-7. Retrieved from Chamberlain College of Nursing: http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.chamberlain.edu
Pepper's, L. &. (2014). Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing. In L. J. Hood, Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing (p. 625). Kansas City, Missouri: Wolters Kluwer Health/ Lippicott-Raven & Wilkins.
