Essay Sample on Communication in Nursing

Communication in Nursing plays a critical role in healing because it influences the understanding and diagnosis process of patients. Research by CDC lists ineffective communication as a primary cause of massive deaths and long term harming of patients. Weak interaction results in medical errors in drug prescription and even in the major operations such as surgery. However, effective Nurse-Patient Communication helps to alleviate medical mistakes that in return improve the patients' treatment outcome. It is because; better communication between a nurse and a patient enhances nurse safety and consciousness, adherence to nursing practice rules and a high rate of patient satisfaction. Therefore, for effective Nurse-Patient communication, it is important to follow up the outline of Peplau's Interpersonal Relations theory, this because it is a perfect model of effective communication in nursing (Hood 2014). The theory focuses on the relationship between a nurse and a patient along the diagnosis process bearing in mind factors that influence effective communication such as environmental conditions, both patients and nurse attitudes, and cultural beliefs. The first phase for effective communication will entail orientation. The patient engages the nurse to get explanations on his or her health condition. Orientation is valuable in developing trust as well as gauges the impression of the nursing system. The existence of confidence in a nurse-patient relationship gives the patient a chance to freely talk about his secret medical history, the best scenario for the choice of treatment course due to full disclosure of health information. The identification stage is of value in creating better communication because it is a focal level where the nurse and the patient have developed a good rapport. A patient becomes an active participant in te diagnosis process. More so, at the exploitation stage, the patient becomes responsive to nurse direction as a result of effective communication. He or she follows nurse instructions and takes drugs dosage keenly as per the instruction of the nurse. Finally, at resolution stage, the diagnosis process becomes a success hence meeting the needs of the patient.

However, for the purpose of achieving effective communication, it is important for nurses to understand the barriers to effective communication in their course of practicing nursing. It will enhance the nurse adaptability to various hindrances while in the line of duty. According to Elain Bramhall, a nursing researcher in effective communication outlines the barriers of effective communication (Boykins 2014). They include environmental barriers such as noise pollution, fear of prejudgment by nurses, lack of privacy in disclosing confidential information, the low self-esteem which causes a lack of courage to explain oneself. On the other hand, nursing barriers involve absentia of staff support, conflict, overworking of nurses, fear of creating distress in patients while explaining their health condition, and lack of competence in communication skills. Bramhall expresses his concern on the possession of communication skills by nurses. He suggests that nurse should be trained in communication skills only on active programs since their working environment is unpredictable and complex.

Conclusion

Lack of essential time to communicate due to one nurse attending to many patients proves to be disastrous since the nurse swill be psychologically tired. The nursing system should change in a way that it provides nurses with an opportunity to go for the advanced educational program in nursing. It is true that effective communication is learned through experience and knowledge wise. An effective nurse-patient communication process will, therefore, constitute a relevant display of nonverbal cues such as body movement and facial expression to suit the occasion, the power of good listening skills such as being keen and attentive and finally express important personal attributes such as compassion, care, kindness, and honesty.

References

Boykins, A. D. (2014). Core Communication Competencies in Patient-Centered Care. The ABNF Journal, 40-45.

Hood, L. J. (2014). Leddy & Pepper's conceptual bases of professional nursing (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.