Some people say nurses are somewhat like spies – their work might be invisible, but nonetheless very important to the society. Nursing is a part of the health care sector which centers on the consistent care of individuals, families, and even communities so they may gain, preserve, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nursing protects health, promotes a healthy way of life and optimizes individual’s abilities. Indeed, nursing is one of the most complex and important parts of the health care system in every country.
Foremost, it requires education, enough basic experience, ethics and honesty (Anderson 2012). Taking all above mentioned into account, effective communication and management are a definite must in nursing.
Especially, communication, because it is the basic of human interaction (Casey & Wallis 2011). Communication in nursing concerns contacting with both the people requiring help and your colleagues.
In order to successfully provide needed help the nurse should be sensitive to all the information about the individual he or she is taking care of. Through that, the nurse can successfully establish contact with that individual and build a relationship. Building such relationship is primal to the nursing context (Bach S & Grant A 2009). Ideally, patient and nurse should become trustworthy friends. Failing to communicate well with the patient will destroy delicate relationship with patient, meaning he or she does not trust the nurse (Communication skills (Essence of Care benchmark) 2007). In addition, successful communication through a patient-centred approach leads to reassuring relatives their loved ones are receiving the treatment they need (Write 2012).
Team nursing has been around for a half of the decade. It is an integrated system, which was developed in ninety-fifties by a grant provided from W.K. Kellogg due to social and technological changes during World War II, because the existing system unfortunately did not provide the expected outcome.
So, communication with colleagues is also important, because sharing experience and helping each other leads to development of trust in nursing team, which boosts productivity, cohesion and quality of treatment. Even a simple smile can do an excellent job (Davenport D 2008).
People who usually become successful nursing team leaders have two following qualities – they are excellent clinicians with fundamental background experience and education, and they have overall and professional acumen. Such nurse leaders provide quality insights to the team on almost every level needed to restore and maintain clients’ health and inspire younger nurses to work better and learn more from their mistakes. Usually, such team leaders in nursing have integrity, courage, are initiative and successfully handle stress (which is very important). They need to make the team work to pursue different common goals, in the end to provide the best health care it is possible. The nurse team leader should clearly deliver one of the most important messages for a nurse – the patient and his or her health is the center of their professional activity, the foremost goal that should be executed honestly and expertly. And the team leader should also remind that empathy is one of the most important qualities a successful nurse must have.
In this light, working as a team leader is an important and serious call, as you have to operate, encourage and inspire the members of your team. You have to be everywhere – providing advice and support, preventing any mistakes and making sure the team works like a Swedish clock – because it is the only way the proper nursing should work.
References
- Anderson L, 2012, Why Communication in the Nursing Profession is Important?, accessed 14 November 2013,
<http://www.nursetogether.com/why-communication-in-the-nursing-profession-is-important>.
- Communication skills (Essence of Care benchmark) 2007, accessed 14 November 2013,
<http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/educators/communication-skills-essence-of-care-benchmark/361127.article >.
- Casey A & Wallis A 2011, ‘Effective communication: Principle of Nursing Practice E. Nursing Standard’, Art & Science, vol. 25, no. 32, pp. 35-37.
- Wright R 2012, ‘Effective Communication Skills for the ‘Caring’ Nurse’, accessed 14 November 2013,
<http://www.pearsonlongman.com/tertiaryplace/pdf/ros_wright_effective_comm_skills_for_the_caring_nurse_aug2012.pdf>.
- Bach S & Grant A 2009, Communication and Interpersonal Skills for Nurses, Learning Matters, Exeter.
- Davenport D, 2008, Communication - how can we improve our skills?, accessed 15 November 2013,
<http://www.nursinginpractice.com/article/communication-how-can-we-improve-our-skills>
