Communication in Nursing

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“Communication is the heart of nursing… your ability to use your growing knowledge and yourself as an instrument of care and caring and compassion” (Koerner, 2010, as cited in Balzer-Riley, 2012, p. 2). The knowledge base which Koerner is referring to includes important concepts such as communication, assertiveness, responsibility and caring (Balzer-Riley, 2012). Furthermore, communication is complex. It includes communication with patients, patient families, doctors, co-workers, nurse managers and many others. Due to those concepts and the variety of people involved, barriers and issues are present. Knowing how to communicate efficiently can be difficult. The intent of this paper is to analyze interviews with a staff nurse and a nurse manager. The interview questions revolve around what the nurses perceive as the main communication issues at work. More specifically, the communication issues with patient communication, communication with colleagues and communication with leadership/administration. This paper will also list three actions that would improve communication in response to the issues raised during the interviews. Staff Nurse Interview In an interview with a staff nurse (S.N), the main problem within patient communication included lack of patient’s (and family) involvement/willingness in planning cares. The staff nurse emphasized how “Patients often feel overwhelmed and do not want to participate. But, it is important for patients to be involved in their care for better outcomes” (S.N., personal communication, February 5, 2014). The staff nurse’s statement is supported by Evans (2013) whom remarked “better-informed patients avoid unnecessary care and frustration”. Issues with communication between colle... ... middle of paper ... ...vans, M. (2013). Doctors argue for decision aids to promote patient engagement. Modern Healthcare, 43(48), 26-30 Jeppesen, K., Coyle, J., & Miser, W. (2009). Screening questions to predict limited health literacy: a cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes mellitus. Annals of Family Medicine, 7(1), 24-31. doi:10.1370/afm.919 Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2012). Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing: Theory and Application. (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. O’Daniel, M., & A.H., R. (2008). Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2637/ Tulsky, J. A. (2005). Interventions to Enhance Communication among Patients, Providers, and Families. JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE (8), 1. S95 - S102.

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