2. Why did you select this project to discuss?
I selected this project because I am a nurse and I interact with patients’ every day. Nonverbal cues are special types of communication, and learning about how the cues can be used on a patient helps one to master communication and interaction with patients. Also, as a nurse, I always need to communicate with patients without using my voice, to show them that I care about the medication process, and I am keen on giving them the best treatment possible. There are those cases where patients are in pain and talking to them would be some disturbance. I think having the knowledge of nonverbal cues can help me reduce the tension of patients and make my work easier. Moreover, as a human being, there is a chance that I will need some medical care in future, and the knowledge of the nonverbal cues will help me to read the moods of the doctors and nurses taking care of me. Therefore, I think mastering the nonverbal communication methods places me in a perfect position to predict the feelings of patients. It also enables me to communicate with them and offer assurance that they will be alright.
3. What did you find MOST interesting in their submission materials and why? Only one thing. Provide details. (200-word minimum)
The most interesting thing from the essay is the use of smiling in communicating feelings and emotions. It is intriguing how such an effortless action can have such impacts on patients. I looked up the cited article by DeVito and realized that indeed the smiling opens up patients to the nurses, as they feel the warmth and openness of the nurse. I will ensure that I will use smiles as much as I can in my practice and the nature of my job as a traveling nurse needs a high level of commitment and appreciation of the new people I meet every day. Outside the office, I will surely treat people with warmth because I understand that I cannot be upbeat all the time (McLaughlin). Patients feel that a nurse is competent when he or she smiles at them, and this can lead to the cooperation from the patients regarding taking medication and speaking about their feelings and progress. Maybe people should smile more in real life to make this world a better place because the essay shows that a smile is what someone needs to create an impression of warmth to the other party.
4. Provide an overall evaluation of this project regarding the quality of information, an organization of materials, and use of citations. (200-word minimum)
The project is perfectly presented, and all ideas are backed by citations. The nonverbal cues are discussed with finesse depth, and I could sense that the writers took a lot of time to prepare for the essay. However, I thought the title of the essay misled me a little bit because it sounds like a motivational book. Perhaps, a title like ‘Communication without speaking is part of the treatment process in hospitals’ would suit the project in a better way, as the impact of nonverbal cues can be estimated to be very key in ensuring that patients get the best medical care. I did not find the part that discusses the impact of nonverbal cues to nurses very necessary, as I thought the article was capturing both sides of the conversation at the same time. When a patient makes an eye contact, for instance, it is apparent that they are looking for the attention of the nurse to solve a particular problem. The team members explain their experience with non-verbal communication, and it is clear that when the nonverbal cues are consciously enforced, they may fail in achieving the targeted goal. That means it is preferable that nurses approach the wards with a relaxed mood and use the cues that come naturally. For example, if one cannot smile to a patient, they can use a firm touch that will show warmth.
Works Cited
McLaughlin, James T. “Nonverbal Behaviors in the Analytic Situation: The Search for Meaning in Nonverbal Cues.” American Imago 67.4 (2010): 487–514. Web.
