A Research Study On Clinical Nursing

Unit 1- D1: Explain how communication skills can be used in health or care environment in effective communication

Communication is usually taken for granted in our every day to day living as we use it without thought. Good communication skills are needed in the workplace and especially with nursing staff to and from patients when giving first hand care. Good or bad communication can make there experience within the health care setting a positive or negative one and can leave a lasting impression. A good health care provider can use there communication skills to put a patient at ease with a few comforting words or gestures, a lack of positive communication in the health care setting could leave the patient feeling neglected, ignored and not valued as a patient.

Effective communication is essential for a nurse in a leadership position. If a nurse is not able to convey or transfer pertinent information to other team members or clients, conflict or problems can arise. A nurse is able to effectively communicate through creating synergy, establishing a purpose or goal, actively listening, being truthful, and being responsible. When a nurse leader is able to successfully communicate, patient safety increases and medical errors decrease which leads to a higher percentage of positive patient outcomes. Effective communication fosters positive nurse-patient and nurse-team member relationships.

Effective communication is crucial aspect of nursing yet too often is placed low on the priority list, especially at shift change. Information related to the care of patients is frequently disseminated at a crowded, noisy nurse station with several nurses rushing to leave and others attempting to get the information necessary to plan care and limit the constant distractions. It is this interaction that allows for information vital patient safety information to be communicated including the acuity of patients.

Communication is any form of expressing and receiving of messages between individuals. The importance of Communication in the nursing profession is to maintain high quality care for the patient but also maintain effective collaboration between professionals. Boykins, D (2014) states that the “registered nurse is expected to communicate in various formats and in all areas of practice”. Various formats include speaking to patients and coworkers as well as utilizing appropriate protocols and systems to effectively communicate regards to patient’s status.

Nursing handoffs is a type of report between two clinicians that are responsible for patients care and is an important part of transferring patient information (what, how, who and where) from one healthcare provider to another in clinical practice (Smith and Schub, 2014). Ineffective, inconsistent and incongruent communication during these handoffs continues to be a problem and a threat to patient safety. Effective handoffs are instrumental in providing for the successful quality of care that the patient is to receive (Abraham, Kannampallil & Patel, 2013). Medical errors, treatment delays, inappropriate treatment and/or care omissions can happen as a result of miscommunication during handoffs which could potentially lead to patient harm, longer stays, readmissions and/or increased costs.

Throughout this communication course I have learned and attempted to apply new skills in communication and group interactions. I have collaborated with nursing and healthcare leadership professionals on a project to improve communication and health outcomes for a specific population. As our group has formed and developed during this quarter, I have identified strengths and weaknesses in my ability to work within a group. The four stages of a group, as described by Connery and Vohs (2006) will be discussed as they pertained to my perception of the group process and outcomes this quarter. My communication strengths, weaknesses, and my adoption of the informal roles outlined by Connery and Vohs (2006) with regard to group work will be analyzed as well as my plan for utilizing my strengths and addressing my weaknesses for future interactions and group work.

Verbal communication between the nurses during shift change or simply writing a progress report on the status of the patient does not cater to the needs of the patient, it is a mere communication method that is unreliable and nurse perception of the written report are often molded with bias and does not wholly represent the patient’s holistic health care needs. As dictated by Caruso (2007), “Change of shift signifies a time of carful communication in order to promote patient safety and best practices... [the risk exists of] relaying important information becomes muddled by irrelevant information instead...” (p.17). In essence, implementation of bedside nurse shift report/handover deems to provide the most opportune outcomes and focuses on patient-centered

In nursing profession, communication is one of the vital interprofessional collaboration competencies. A slack in communication gap will affect effective teamwork in providing efficient patient care delivery. Without integrated cooperation and effective communication, there will be a delinquency in the healthcare system, resulting in

Communication breakdown is among the leading cause of medical errors such as gaps in health care, incomplete or missing information, and medication errors. Most importantly, communication supports the foundation of patient care. According to The Joint Commission (formerly Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCAHO]) improved communication among nurses during shift changes reduces injuries due to medical errors by 30 percent. So, hand-off reporting during shift change is a critical process that is crucial in protecting a patient’s safety. Throughout the hand-off report, it is vital to provide accurate, up-to- date and pertinent information to the oncoming nurse. An estimate of 80 percent of the most serious medical

This systemic review was completed to evaluate articles that discussed nursing handoff. 95 articles met the inclusion criteria and 20 of those articles involved research on nursing handoffs. A Quality Scoring System went on to assess each article with scores ranging from 1 to 16. “Quality assessment scores for the 20 research studies ranged from 2 to 12” (Riesenberg et al, 2010, p. 28). This goes to show us that there is a lack of high-quality articles on the subject matter of nursing handoff. From this article the reader can also learn about barriers and strategies of effective handoff in more depth.

How we communicate effects everything we do. Whether talking to patients and family members, speaking in a team meeting, or talking with our children’s teacher at a conference, communication is how we learn information, teach information and express our concerns. With this paper I will discuss; the definitions of healthcare communication, the relevancy of effective personal healthcare communication with other healthcare professionals, clients, and patients, the relevancy of effective professional healthcare

Professional health care communication generates positive outcomes when participants establish relationships using the fundamental elements of respect, honesty, and mutual control to create open lines of communication. Establishing a symmetrical level of control between health care professionals allows everyone to share equal control of the relationship. In this setting members are vital participants on the health care team allowing members to share thoughts, concerns, and suggestions freely in the effort to accomplish goals to improve patient care, and produce healthy outcomes. Effective communication is necessary when collaborating in groups with other health care professionals. To reach positive outcomes participants need to participate actively with the other members sharing insight, concerns, and solutions assertively. On the floor health care professionals use effective communication to delegate assignments to other health care professionals, provide feedback, and establish relationships with management. Proficiency in these areas facilitates the proper functioning of the unit, competency of the employees, and maintains an open communication network with the leaders of the floor.

Communication plays a vital role in the healthcare setting, as the relationship with the healthcare professional sets the tone of the care experience and has a powerful impact on patient satisfaction. It is “the shared process in which messages are sent and received between two or more people which are made up of a sender, receiver, and message in a particular context” (cite, date). This essay highlights the importance of, and some common barriers to, effective communication in the healthcare setting. It involves many interpersonal skills such as effective observation, questioning and listening, giving feedback, recognizing and removing barriers.

Communication is key in health care and this course really reiterated this. Promoting communication will