The Importance Of Human Communication

Communication is the interaction between individuals that allows us to deliver and receive information, thoughts and feelings. Communication can be seen to have three components: verbal (spoken words), non-verbal (body language) and paralinguistic (tone and pitch of spoken words) (Mehrabian 1981). This shows the complexity of communication in that variance in one ‘component’ could potentially alter or distort the desired meaning being conveyed to the recipient. Similarly Arnold, Undermann Bogss (2015) states that communication could be seen to be a combination of verbal and non-verbal actions being used in unison to exchange and strengthen ideas or share life experiences through means of posture, spoken words or personal symbolism.

Communication is everywhere. We, as interactive human beings, spend the majority of our time corresponding with others to satisfy our physical, identity, social, and practical needs (Adler, Rodman, & Sevigny, 2011). Often, this is consciously done; we search our minds for the accurate linguistic means to express our experiences, and use them to communicate with those around us. However, communication is not as straightforward and effortless as we may believe. It is, in fact, often unintentional, with 65% of it occurring as a result of non-verbal cues (Matsumoto, Shibata, Seiji, Mori, & Shioe, 2010). As mentioned by Marta Dynel (2011) in a study done on nonverbal communication, “Non verbal signs and signals ... are prevalent practically in

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.

People communicate in different ways to help social interaction. Communication is not just though words it can also be though touch, facial expressions and body movement as well as written electronic messages.

Arnold E (1999). Interpersonal Relationships: Professional Communication Skills for Nursing. 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company.

Communication in the nursing professional is complicated process and the possibility of sending or receiving incorrect messages frequently exists. It is essential that we know the key components of the communication process, how to improve our skills, and the potential problems that exist with errors in communication. Good communication skills should be considered a basic requirement for any person irrespective of the profession the person is engaged in. Communication helps a person to relate well with the people he is interacting with. The nursing profession is not an exception since a nurse should use good communication skills to be

The spoken language, while endlessly useful, is only a recent invention in comparison to body language. Dr. Albert Mehrabian’s often quoted study found that 7% of a message is conveyed through words, 38% through vocal elements, and 55% through nonverbal elements. While these statistics and their meanings may not be so straightforward, the overall take away is clear; nonverbal communication heavily affects the way we receive and transmit messages.

Arnold, E. C., & Boggs, K. U. (2011). Interpersonal relationships: Professional communication skills for Nurses (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders.

Interpersonal communication is a multidimensional relational vehicle used to promote shared understanding, build community engagement, problem solve collectively, influence decision making, and develop a realization of self-awareness. It is a fundamental element deeply embedded in the social construct of our existence and is defined as part of the interactive process by which information, feelings and thoughts are exchanged between individuals. This exchange of information is inescapable as we are constantly involved in transmitting and interpreting verbal and non-verbal cues between each other simultaneously every day. Even in our perceived exhibition of momentary objective silence, we are still communicating through non-verbal expressions.

Communication is the process of gathering meaning from the world around us and using verbal and non-verbal messages to share this meaning with others. (Beebe, Beebe, and Redmond, 2005) More specifically, interpersonal communication can be defined as; “a distinctive, transactual form of human communication involving mutual influence, usually for the purpose of managing relation ships.” (Beebe, Beebe, and Redmond, 2005, p. 6) Interpersonal communication is extremely complex and encompasses many different themes and issues that affect many aspects of our daily lives. These

Interpersonal and communication skills are essential qualities required in the role of nursing. Nurses need to be strong communicators so that they can gather relevant information from patients and

Peate, I. (2009) ‘Communication and interpersonal skills for NursesCommunication and interpersonal skills for nurses’, Nursing Standard, 24(14), pp. 30–30. doi: 10.7748/ns2009.12.24.14.30.b995.

Many people refer to their strong communication skills, but communication is really a competency that relies on a combination of certain skills, behavior and knowledge. To communicate effectively a person may need to understand cultural diversity, have advanced language skills, and behave with patience. Interpersonal communication is essential in every area of life, but it especially critical in the field of nursing. Nurses are responsible for understanding and for being understood. They are required to both listen carefully and report information accurately and efficiently. Effective communication skills in nursing

In nursing, effective communication plays a key role in patient-focused communication between health professionals and patients. This is because nursing is essentially an interaction between health professionals and patients where communications happens at all times. Nurses who communicate well are able to put patients at ease, which leads to patients sharing information regarding their feelings and experiences, which can help healthcare professionals improve their outcomes. Good communication also allows nurses to deliver care that is unique to each patient. Once a patient tells the nurse about his fears and symptoms, the nurse can record that information and work towards a diagnosis. Ultimately, to be a successful nurse, excellent communication skills are required. The ability to communicate and connect with patients and health care professionals can help build relationships, prevent mistakes and provide a higher level of care.

Why is teaching Social Communication important? Social Communication is the basis of how humans interact with each other. Without social skills, the ability to build relationships with others would not exist. Being a social outlet for children, school offers students a unique opportunity to practice their social skills, but for students who struggle, school can have a negative impact on their academic success (Ostmeyer and Scarpa, 2012). In School there is a presumed set of skills that students are required to learn and follow. Some of these skills that teachers find essential are listening to others, following steps, staying calm, taking responsibility for one’s behavior and doing nice things for others. To many, these skills may require a little thought, but to children with social deficits, these skills could be a continuous obstacle. “Thus, an environment that necessitates social communication as a method of learning could lead to academic underperformance” (Ostmeyer, Scarpa, 2012, pp. 933).