Importance of Effective Communication in Nursing

Effective Communication in Nursing is very essential to meet not only the expectation of patients toward Healthcare services but also to help achieve departmental or organizational goals and objectives.
Miscommunication is one of the leading causes of medical errors that may bring harm or permanent damage to patients. Emphasizing the use of effective communication in the healthcare setting lessen the occurrence of such errors.

1. Importance of Effective Communication Mark Ronnes Reyes Nursing Educator Abha International Private Hospital

2. Communication in Healthcare Nurses must constantly express patient needs to physicians, write clear yet concise notes and highlight the events of the shift and how patients are responding to treatment and care. Thus, effective communication is most important during patient interactions.

3. WHAT IS COMMUNICATION A process of exchanging information and the process of generating and transmitting messages between two or more individuals. It is the most primary aspect of a nurse-patient interaction.

4. SMCR-SENDER-MESSAGES-CHANNEL-RECEIVER PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 1. Motivation, Collaboration, Coordination in the employees and patients 2. Improve Nurse-Patient relationships 3. Transfer information between patients and all classes of employees 4. To interpret and adopt policies in the organization

5. SMCR-SENDER-MESSAGES-CHANNEL-RECEIVER PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 5. To recruit, select, train and develop the personnel in the organization. 6. Encourage the participation in decision making. 7. To boost group morale of workers 8. Ensure patient’s safety and job satisfaction 9. Help grievance procedure and disciplinary action

6. BARRIERS IN COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 1. Failure to perceive patient as human being 2. Inappropriate comments and Questions 3. Using questions requiring only yes or no answers 4. Using questions that probe for information 5. using judgmental comments 6. Changing the subject 7. Giving false assurance 8. Gossip and rumors 9. Aggressive interpersonal behavior

7. IMPACT OF GOOD COMMUNICATION IN NURSING To be a successful nurse, excellent communication skills are required. The ability to communicate and connect with patients and other health care professionals can help build relationship , prevent mistakes and provide a higher level of care .

8. According to a 2013 study published in the journal of Patient safety, as many as 440,000 people die each year from preventable medical errors. Deaths due to medical errors, The Joint Commission estimates that 80% involves miscommunication, and its analysis revealed that communication was one of the top three leading causes of sentinel events, a patient safety event unrelated to the patient’s illness or condition that results in death, permanent harm or another qualifying negative outcome. IMPACT OF GOOD COMMUNICATION IN NURSING

9. Increases in nursing communication can lessen medical errors and make a difference in positive patient outcomes . A few of nursing communication theories like in Peplau’s Interpersonal relations Theory focuses on the nurse-client relationship and the therapeutic process that takes place. It involves factors like environment, in addition to attitudes, practices and beliefs in the dominant culture. IMPACT OF GOOD COMMUNICATION IN NURSING

10. Peplau’s Interpersonal relations Theory STAGES Orientation Phase- The nurses engages the patient in treatment and the patient can ask question and receives explanation and information. Identification Phase- The patient and nurse begin to work together and this interaction provides trust, and acceptance as the patient becomes an active participant in treatment. Exploitation Phase- the patient takes advantage of all the services offered, exploiting the nurse-patient relationship to address treatment goals. Resolution Phase- due to effective communication the patient needs are met and moves toward full independence. The patient no longer needs help and relationship ends, after discharge..

11. PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION - can be defined as a transaction and message creation. It assists in the performance of accurate, consistent and easy nursing work, ensuring both the satisfaction of the patient and the protection of the health professional . When health care professionals are not trained in communication skills, they face more difficulties separating work from their personal life, tending to transfer problems from one side to the other. Nobody can be said that he/she cannot communicate.

12. By listening , the nurses assess the situation and the problems of the patient and improve the process of care needed. When there is good personal relationship between the nurse and the patient it may lead to things with kindness like questioning and information is provided by patient openly . It does not scare the patient instead it demonstrates interests, creates feelings of acceptance, trust and harmonious relationship. PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION

13. Communication can happen without words. This is Non-verbal communication and is expressed by facial expressions, gestures and posture. Listening is important in communication . It is responsible nursing practice and requires concentration of attention and mobilization of all the senses for the perception of verbal and non-verbal messages made by the patient . PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION

14. The Therapeutic relationship is an important prerequisite to effective communication between health care providers and the patient. This relationship between the two include the ability to express sincere concern for the care of the patient and the patient becomes partaker of this interest. PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION

15. SPEAKING WITH THE PATIENT The communication which initially started by the nurse and the patient is a process that begins with the first contact of the two and lasts as long as the therapeutic relationship is present. The nurse who wants to create the right relationship with the patient must win him/her from the first moment when the conversation is held appropriately .

16. BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Common Barriers to Effective Communication for Patient and Healthcare Providers -FOR PATIENTS- to include noise, lack of privacy and lack of control over who is present, Fear and Anxiety- related to being judged, becoming emotional or becoming weak Inability in explaining feelings and attempting to appear strong for someone’s else benefit

17. Common Barriers to Effective Communication for Patient and Healthcare providers -FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL BARRIERS- include environmental items like time or support staff conflict and high workload Fear and Anxiety related to causing the patient to be distressed by talking or responding to questions Lack of skills or strategies for coping with difficult emotions, reactions or questions. BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

18. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION characterized by facial expressions, gestures, posture and physical barriers such as distance from interlocutor. Non verbal communication must agree with verbal communication.

19. 2. LISTENING -Responsible nursing practice and requires concentration of attention and mobilization of all senses for the perception of verbal and nonverbal messages made by the patient. By listening, nurses can be attentive to the needs of the patient and integrate care according to the patient’s evolving needs. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS

20. 3. PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP Compassion and care, nurses can develop good personal relationships with the ability to ASK questions with kindness and provide information that does not scare, that demonstrates interest, creates feelings of acceptance, trust and a harmonious relationship EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS

21. TEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR NURSES TO MASTER 1 . SPEAK SLOWLY -Take time to speak slowly and carefully and the words maybe less mistakes by others 2. SPEAK CLEARLY NOT LOUDLY- When communicating with some people, especially those who are older, the inclination might be to raise your voice dramatically in an effort to make them understand you. Instead of speaking louder, try to speak with clarity especially when communicating with older patients.

22. 3. AVOID USING SLANG WORDS- A common mistake that many health professionals make is to use bigger and more complicated words. Slang words are not fitting or appropriate as to their age and situation. 4. REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE- Choose your words to fit the situation and audience. ( like in the words drug and medication) TEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR NURSES TO MASTER

23. 5. STOP AND LISTEN- One of the most important skills is the ability to stop and listen actively and ethically to what being said by the other person. 6. REFLECT- To make sure that the communication is flowing, learn the simple trick of reflecting on what the person is saying to you. Simply repeat what has been said in your own words, back to the person. TEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR NURSES TO MASTER

24. 7. USE BODY LANGUAGE- Despite the words you use, the majority of human communication is through the body language in your face, hands and posture etc. 8. KNOW YOUR COMMUNICATION ROADBLOCK- If you know that a person crying will effectively make your communication disintegrate then to try to actively practice ways to manage these situations better. TEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR NURSES TO MASTER

25. 9 CONSIDER LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE- Learning a new language puts you in better touch with your native tongue and can open your eyes to the way you use the words you already know. 10. DON’T FORGET THE METHODS OF COMMUNICATION- In addition to speaking and listening, don’t forget that there are other skills that you should work on, such as reading and writing. TEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR NURSES TO MASTER

26. It’s not all about Talking, it’s how you Express and Deliver what you want, then things are done with knowledge, skills and right attitude on the part of the nurse. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.