Communication defined as the exchange of information, feelings, and thoughts among different people using speech and other means. Excellent communication skills are required for a nurse to be successful. The ability to effectively communicate and connect with patients and other health care professionals help build relationships, provide a high level of medical attention and medical mistakes reduced (Fujimori, et al., 2014). Different types of communications take place between clients and patients. During communication, it is paramount that there is an agreement between verbal and non-verbal communications. Understanding types of communication are important in health care professions to maintain relationships with the clients and patients (Fujimori, et al., 2014). Verbal communication, here the medium of communication is oral, and the message is conveyed from the sender to the receiver example when the patient tries to explain to the nurse source of pain. The crucial conversation also referred to high-stake communication require reflection and often require decisions to be made an example when the client explains the need for further treatment or need to have surgery. Written communications are printed messages example when the nurse gives a patient a pamphlet that further explains the medical condition. Non-verbal communication expressed through body language and facial expression.
Factors that influence communication process, development- language and communication skills are different in different stages. Gender- males often use communication to establish independence while female use communication to seek clarification. Sociocultural activities example education, economic status, and education influence communication significantly. Personal space which is the distance that people prefer to interact with others. Every individual unique value system and perceptions determine the interpretation of messages. People communicate differently based on the environment. The concept of patient experience is primarily linked with patient satisfaction. Then the comfort levels go high. The patient/clients’ interaction can be used to evaluate the system’s quality. The interaction can assess the efficiency of the healthcare system and how well the nurses can discharge their services with fewer issues of miscommunication (Fujimori, et al., 2014). Finally, the interaction between client/patient can have a significant impact on different kinds of initiatives being undertaken in the hospital, for example, nurses explaining the introduction of a policy to the patient, it can either positively affect the intended outcome or a negative response received.
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Developing crucial communication skills is essential and challenging. Suggested communication strategies are often regarded demanding and complex based on the nature of work environment as it is stressful and pressurized with limited time for effective communication (Bays et al., 2014). Nurses can advance their communication skills by enrolling to employment sponsored training. Medical personnel can also improve their communication skills through education example undertaking online classes. Nurses can train to speak slowly and clearly while explaining the medical condition to the patients and being patient to listen to concerns and fears from the patient. There is need to always factor the different audience languages used for the various categories of people. For example, people often associate drugs with illicit substances while the doctors relate it to pharmaceutics. Nurses and health practitioners can consider the use of body language to further and better explain a condition to the patients.
The above-noted strategies to improve communication between patient/nurses impact different demographics. When nurses are communicating to the elderly, it is better to speak slowly and clearly to ensure they have a perfect understanding of the current medical condition. When nurses are talking to the children who have little comprehension of many medical terms, there may be the need to explore the use of body language to ensure they understand their impending medical condition. Patients who are maybe suffering from terminal illnesses require that the nurses or specialists explaining their status are sensitive to the patients’ current situation. The young people use the term drug to be associated with illicit activities, and thus, while describing medical conditions, it is important for the nurses to adequately capture their fears and give a comprehensive explanation that would alleviate such feeling (Gillis, Morris, & Ridgway, 2014). Finally, individuals of high social status prefer to be given detailed and accurate information to better have an understanding of their current condition. While patients from low social class or those living in absolute poverty may not be interested in the detailed scientific information. In summary, for the health care practitioners, the ability to master different communication skills is a crucial part of the job.
References
Bays, A. M., Engelberg, R. A., Back, A. L., Ford, D. W., Downey, L., Shannon, S. E., ... & O'Connor, K. (2014). Interprofessional communication skills training for serious illness: evaluation of a small-group, simulated patient intervention. Journal of palliative medicine , 17 (2), 159-166.
Fujimori, M., Shirai, Y., Asai, M., Akizuki, N., Katsumata, N., Kubota, K., & Uchitomi, Y. (2014). Development and preliminary evaluation of communication skills training program for oncologists based on patient preferences for communicating bad news. Palliative & supportive care , 12 (5), 379-386.
Gillis, A. E., Morris, M. C., & Ridgway, P. F. (2014). Communication skills assessment in the final postgraduate years to established practice: a systematic review. Postgraduate medical journal , postgradmedj-2014.
