The Importance Of Communication In Nursing

Reflecting on learning the importance of nursing documentation/record keeping and written communication. I recognise it’s one of many skill sets imperative to communicating with others, and needed to be effective in my field. Gaps in communication can be risky to patient’s continuity of care, and can lead to detrimental errors such as incorrect medication dosage or treatments, impinging on their safety. Further breaching the (NMC, 2015, C: 13-16), where it is a requirement to protect the public and patients. Poor record keeping would affect my competence, duty of candour and my ability to raise concerns. Further putting patient’s safety at risk. Therefore it is crucial to for records to contain

The interview was conducted with a registered nurse with more than 10 years’ experience. Her current role is working in the Medical Assessment and Planning Unit, in particular, the palliative care area. On a regular basis, her role involves providing safe and quality care to her patients, and more specifically end of life care. In doing so, two predominant skills of communication

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.

Effective communication during a patient handoff is critical in ensuring patient-care quality and safety and bedside shift reports have been found to increase patient involvement and satisfaction (Wakefield, Ragan, Brandt, and Tregnago, 2012). Bedside shift report is viewed as an opportunity to reduce errors and ensure improved communication between nurses (Gregory, Tan, Tilrico, Edwardson, and Gamm, 2014). Improved communication between nurses can be beneficial for all involved. In response to the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals, bedside report has been supported as improving patient safety, patient-centered care, and nurse communication as well as reducing medical errors (Gregory, et al., 2014). Ofori-Atta, Biniend, and Chalupka’s (2015) article examines statistics regarding hospital care and shows that according to the Inspector General Office, Health and Human Services

Holistic healthcare demands interpersonal collaboration within the nurses and the community for the excellent care of the patient. For example, for a patient suffering from a mental disorder, it is necessary for the nurses to collaborate with each other as well as with the social workers assigned to the patient and his family, which is true if the patient is also a guardian. (Wagner, Liston, & Miller, 2011). The nurses will have to take medical care of the patient while the social worker tends to his social needs such as the welfare of his family. Therefore, it is imperative that the nursing and social work personnel have good communication skills. Communication enhances teamwork that will lead to the caregivers sharing insights and ideas with

As stated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA, 2014), when using social media, health practitioners should be aware that National codes of ethics and professional conduct apply. The British journal of Nursing (Farrelly, 2014) articulates that as a student nurse and future health professional, I have a responsibility to understand social media and confidentiality in the health care context. To become a successful nurse I will need to build trusting relationships with my patients, which will involve them being confident that their personal information will be protected by myself as a nurse. To achieve this it is essential that I adjust the ways I use social media and become more cautious of what I am posting online. For example, as a student and future RN, it is crucial that I do not discuss patients or post pictures, case studies or sensitive material which may enable patients to be identified. The misuse of social media may also have a negative effect on team-based patient care, for example if it is used as a tool to “cyber bully”

Communication plays a critical role in the healthcare industry. It is a critical part of nurse, as you will be providing viable information to the different individuals. As a nurse one reason that communication is critical is during handoff. “A standardized handoff communication tool is recognized as a Joint Commission patient safety goal to reduce communication errors and improve patient safety” (Taylor, 2015). In recent years, healthcare facility has change the shift report from a report outside the room to a bedside report. A bedside report been established to reduce medical errors, and improve patient safety. Bedside report also incorporates the patient involvement in their own care. Engaging patient in their health care, can lead to

Mr. Comer was admitted to his local community hospital for respite care. He has suffered multiple, acute strokes in the past, which has left him with severe disabilities. These include paralysis rendering him immobile, aphasia (speech loss) and dysphagia (swallowing difficulties). He relies on carers for all normal activities required for daily living (Roper et al 1996) and is advised to have a pureed diet and thickened fluids.

Change is the stage where all the ward team begin to decide their uncertainty that things will be different (Cummings and McLennan 2005). This is when effective communication flow will be established with the ward team to be on board with the change especially the hierarchical stakeholders leaders or managers (Palfrey 2006). It will develop a good rapport between the change agent to managers in order to brain storm these managers to belief in embracing this challenge and chance to execute the cover for the catheter stand and short with suspensor pocket for the suprapubic catheter leg bag would benefit the patients and the team. This will allow the managers to engaged and support the junior staffs to adapt the new skill as they are seen as role models (Porter-O' Grady 2003). This transitioned of these hierarchical leader controlled structure of empowerment will require a champion who will advocate, lead and implement the change within the unit and others (Kerfoot 2006). For example, the manager will mentor and

Handoff communication between health care employees entering and exiting their shifts is a daily occurrence for every patient in the hospital. This is the verbal and sometimes written report of the patient 's diagnosis including their current hospitalized illness along with their potentially extensive medication list and all pertinent events throughout the shift. Miscommunication can occur easily between incoming and outgoing employees. This breakdown in information delivery may be detrimental to patient outcomes potentially harming the patient or delaying the healing process. Defining certain components of an effective patient report, showcasing possible negative outcomes of an ineffective hand off, and ways that this process might be improved may bring light to this issue and curb possible incidences of vital information slipping through the cracks. This may be an area where facilities see much better patient results through education, interdepartmental communication, and policy change.

Two objectives that I would like to do my next clinical rotation is 1) Wound care 2) Tracheostomy suctioning

Data collection regarding potential communication improvements on the acute psychiatric unit at the Alvin C. York VA medical center revealed an opportunity to improve nursing documentation. Specifically, the data collection process revealed an opportunity to improve the documentation of PRN effectiveness within the electronic medical record. PRN stands for pro re nata, which is a Latin phrase roughly translated as “as needed”. Therefore, prn medications can be described as medications that are taken as needed by a patient and are not typically administered on a regularly scheduled basis. PRN medication documentation is important to a patient’s care as the documentation of effectiveness provides useful insight for prescribers on whether or not a medication is useful and whether or not treatment should be adjusted.

As discussed in the last essay communication is key in nursing, every aspect of nursing is depending upon communication. Nurses must communicate with patients and their families, doctors, other nurses. When working in the medical field you will be required to help all different patients, and you need to be prepared to be able to efficiently and effectively communicate even if there is a language barrier, nurses are the main advocates for the patient that they are caring for at that moment. Communication can also occur with out any words being spoken, communication also happens by observing facial expressions, body language, and, gestures.

Therapeutic Communication has a huge impact on patients, whether, we, as nurses, see it or not. It is very important for a nurse to gain a patient’s trust. Many patients are already filled with sadness, nervousness and unsure thoughts of their current situation. Such thoughts may make a person scared to trust or open up to a nurse or doctor. Developing a close rapport with a patient can help to create a safe, warming environment, resulting in a positive experience throughout their time in the hospital or even nursing home. In “Therapeutic Communication”, Anna Lauria opens saying, “What we say or do not say can influence whether a client is able to quiet his mind, relax his body and initiate a healing response” (Lauria). Being a nurse, we automatically have the opportunity to create a strong influence on patients’ lives during, and even after, their hospital experience.

Communication is not only a staple of the human experience but it is also a paramount part of engaging in nursing as well. There are a slew of reasons why communication is so crucial to excelling at nursing and bringing the very best care to each individual patient. This paper will identify as well as analyze many of them. Communication can be defined as the exchange of information, thoughts and feelings among people using speech or other means “Nursing often utilizes oral communication as well as physical communication using the hands, eyes, and mouth as primary modes of communication” (Cozad, 1991). It is important to note that without active communication medicine would be similar to car mechanics; each medical practitioner would be effectively shooting in the dark, and using lab results along with what can be seen on the human body to identify illnesses and conditions, as well as attempt to treat and heal the patient.