Introduction to Communication in Nursing
For nurses, good communication in healthcare means approaching every patient interaction with the intention of understanding the patient’s concerns, experiences, and opinions. This includes using verbal and nonverbal communication skills, along with active listening and patient teach-back techniques. Having effective communication skills is essential to collaborate with teams consisting of your fellow nurses and colleagues from other disciplines. It’s also critical to patient-centred care. Nurses who take the time to listen and understand the concerns of each of their patients are better prepared to address issues as they arise, resulting in better patient outcomes.
On the other hand, poor communication, or lack of communication in healthcare, can lead to patients misunderstanding directions and failing to follow treatment protocols. It can also lead to workflow breakdowns on the team, resulting in a medical error. Interpersonal communication skills influence the quality of decisions made, as well as the level of patient motivation to follow treatment protocols and achieve desired clinical outcomes.
Communication in nursing, whether between nurses and patients or nurses and other providers, can reduce the risk of medical errors, empower patients to make more informed healthcare decisions, and contribute to better workplace collaboration. Active listening and verbal and nonverbal communication are critical. Here are a few points that highlight the benefits and importance of effective communication skills for nurses.
1. Verbal communication to build trust and rapport with the patients
Excellent verbal communication is the key. As a nurse, always speak with clarity, accuracy, and honesty. It’s also important to know your audience and talk appropriately according to the person’s age, culture, and level of health literacy. If you are feeling stressed or frustrated, be aware of your tone of voice and don’t let these emotions leak into your patient interaction.
2. Non-verbal communication to promote patient safety
Using elements of nonverbal communication—such as facial expressions, eye contact, body language, gestures, posture, and tone of voice—is also essential in creating rapport and promoting patient safety. Nonverbal communication prompts — using them and observing or interpreting them — can be just as important as verbal communication in nursing. Nurses can observe a patient’s/coworker’s communication cues, like body language and facial expressions. Patients sitting hunched over might be in pain, while those who seem subdued might be very worried about their condition. This information can facilitate prompt action that can lead to a patient’s protection and veer them out of danger.
3. Active listening to facilitate collaboration among healthcare teams
‘Active listening’ means listening in order to understand the other person’s experience. The highest and most effective form of listening requires complete attention and engagement. This skill is essential not only for clinical nurses but also for other healthcare providers as a tool for building trust and commitment. Nurses collaborate with doctors, specialists, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to provide coordinated and holistic care for patients. Communication enables the seamless exchange of information regarding treatment plans, patient progress, and challenges.
4. Useful communication techniques in nursing
There are many techniques for improving one’s nursing communication skills. Some of the most relevant ones are as follows:
A. Active observation
Patients are sometimes hesitant to verbalize what’s going on with them. An observant nurse can pick up on subtle cues, like changes in the patient’s mood or appearance. A polite comment about the change may encourage the patient to open up.
B. Making personal connections
It’s important to get to know the person behind the patient. Patient-centred relationships are critical in helping patients feel safe and comfortable. Creating meaningful connections with patients can improve outcomes and trust. You can do this by following the golden rules mentioned below:
- Spend a couple of extra minutes daily with each patient, getting to know them.
- Find out a fun fact about each patient.
- Show interest in their lives and share stories of your own.
C. Building trust
Healthcare professionals must inspire trust in patients by listening actively and taking every complaint and concern seriously. Building trust takes time. Some patients find healthcare settings scary, so it’s important to make them feel as comfortable as possible.
Trust is something that nurse educators and leaders should also cultivate as they work to develop the next generation of nurses. To inspire trust, nurse leaders and educators should:
*always tell the truth.
*share information openly.
*be willing to admit to mistakes.
5. Cultural awareness
Nurses work with patients and coworkers from all backgrounds and walks of life. It’s important to approach each interaction with the knowledge and acceptance that someone else may have a different perspective. You will likely work with people from a wide range of social, cultural, and educational backgrounds daily. Every patient and coworker is unique, and being aware and sensitive is important. For example, gauge the patient’s fluency in English and grade your vocabulary accordingly, or bring in a translator if necessary. With transgender and non-binary patients, be sure to use their preferred name and pronoun.
6. Having a compassionate mindset
Conveying compassion is an essential communication skill in healthcare. Research studies show that compassion can assist in prompting fast recovery from acute illness, enhancing chronic illness management, and relieving anxiety. As a nurse, you can deliver compassionate nursing care by putting yourself in the patient’s shoes and understanding their needs and expectations. Nurses who demonstrate empathy create a sense of safety and comfort, which is vital to healing.
7. Common challenges of communication in healthcare
As important as communication skills are in health care, clear communication has multiple challenges. Some examples include:
- Language barriers
- Poor health literacy of patients
- Cultural differences
- Physical environment (e.g., loud noises that discourage clear communication)
It’s the nurse’s responsibility to identify any challenges that may be present at a given time and to take steps to overcome them. For instance, if there are cultural differences, the nurse can ask openly if the patient would educate the nurse about the issue.
Conclusion
The abovementioned points indicate that future nurses need structured, comprehensive, and empathetic communication skills to succeed and thrive in the modern nursing field. To be a successful healthcare provider, clinical nurse, or nurse leader, you need exceptional communication skills—and you need to be able to use them during high-stress situations.
By
Sathi Chakraborty
Master Trainer (IELTS and TOEFL), Author – Communicate and Heal, Alumna – IIM Bangalore
