Nursing is a profession that entails continued interaction with patients. That being the case, it demands that one, as a nurse, have the necessary socio-relational skills to help establish a quality relationship with a patient. Arguably, communication skills assist in building a rapport with patients. Such kind of association not only demonstrates a nurse’s level of professionalism, but also his or her dedication to providing quality care for patients. Therefore, one cannot undermine the role that effective communication, caring, and professionalism play in determining patient health outcomes in a health setting.
Effective Communication
Jones (2012) addressed the concept of communication in a nursing context. She noted that nurses are required to exhibit good interpersonal skills alongside the ability to delivery complex information clearly and in a manner that patients as well as colleagues can understand. Nurses face various situations which demand conveying of information to a colleague of patient such as during check-up, when updating patient data, during discussions about medication prescribed, among other scenarios. It is important to understand that any issue arising from ineffective communication, such as lack of clarity in the message relayed, could lead to fatal outcomes. There have been numerous cases where patients have been treated for the wrong diseases due to ineffective communication between the attending nurse and the physician. For this reason, Jones (2012) emphasized that in order to avoid such cases, nurses should engage in a shared-decision making activity which helps improve their communication strategies. For instance, they could collaborate with physicians and pharmacists assessing a patient’s condition and deciding on what treatment approach or medication he or she should be given. In such a case, the patient is not placed in a situation where their health is at risk. Jones (2012) also noted that apart from verbal and written communication, nurses should consider how their body language projects certain feelings, emotions or attitudes. This could undermine the quality of relationships that one has with patients or colleagues.
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Professionalism
This particular term alludes to one’s adherence to set standards thereby meeting an organization’s expectations. Secrest, Norwood, and Keatley (2003) wrote that development of a professional identity is fundamental to any profession. Some of the elements which can promote realization of a professional image are such as having a code of ethics, being self-regulated, being competent in one’s line of work, and promoting public value through services rendered. In a situation involving a nurse, this could mean addressing patients’ issues in a manner that does not increase the risk of exposure or leakage of confidential information. More often than not, confidentiality issues arise in the healthcare setting and this could lead to lawsuits against the nurse as well as the employer. However, a nurse could apply a code of ethics, such as showing an inclination towards the importance of privacy and confidentiality between them and the patient. Secrest, Norwood, and Keatley (2003) explained that a professional nurse should be knowing, have a sense of belonging through which she can acquire affirmation from patients and colleagues. However, this cannot be achieved if the nurse has no knowledge of boundaries, work expectations, lacks effective communication skills, alongside other limitations. Arguably, professionalism in nursing is demonstrated through knowledge and skills which are acquired through education as well as interaction with peers and patients (Secrest, Norwood, & Keatley, 2003). A professional nurse is able to delivery high quality medical services thereby assuring positive health outcomes in a patient.
Caring
Assertively, the profession of nursing is defined by this particular factor. Monsen, Handler and Dean (2017) discussed various elements which are demonstrating of the carative aspect in nursing such as sensitivity towards self and others, expression of both negative and positive emotions, being supportive, trusting, helping, alongside others. Understandably, caring is a delicate and demanding activity which requires that a nurse, in some cases, sacrifice her interests to help a patient who needs urgent medical care. From this particular example, it becomes clear that the nurse is required to show sensitivity towards the patient’s condition and only take leave when another nurse has taken over or when his or her services are not needed. Thus, care is a crucial factor in any health care setting as it determines the outcome of a patient’s medical condition. Being that individuals present various aspects of diversity, caring helps promote cultural sensitivity which is a core factor determining various things; such as access to medical services and quality of care given (Monsen, Handler & Dean, 2017). When patients do not experience quality of care while in the hospital, they are unlikely to return even when their health issues still persist. In such a case, individuals expose themselves to the risk of accruing multiple infections thereby worsening their conditions. In turn, this imposes a huge burden of care on nurses and health institutions. In this respect, being sensitive towards others and showing care could help avoid some of the issues that the health sector faces.
Conclusion
Nurses have a demanding job which exposes them to stress and burnout. However, despite these challenges, they are expected to demonstrate a high level of professionalism, effective communication skills, and a caring attitude towards patients. A combination of these factors leads to improved health outcomes among patients. Moreover, when patients are satisfied with treatment given, nurses feel a sense of accomplishment thereby making them feel motivated and engaged at work.
References
Jones, A. (2012). The foundation of good nursing practice: Effective communication. The Journal of Renal Nursing, 49 (1): 37-41.
Monsen, K. A., Le, S. M., Handler, H. E., & Dean, P. J. (2017). We Can Be More Caring: A Theory for Enhancing the Experience of Being Caring as an Integral Component of Prelicensure Nursing Education. International Journal of Human Caring,21 (1), 9-14. doi:10.20467/1091-5710.21.1.9
Secrest, J. Norwood, B. & Keatley, V. (2003). “I Was Actually a Nurse”: The Meaning of Professionalism for Baccalaureate Nursing Students. The Journal of Nursing Education, 42 (2): 77-82.
