Question

In this assignment, you will discuss concepts related to the importance of communication and related concepts in the profession of nursing. Follow the instructions below to complete your assignment: Introduce of the concept of communication with a purpose statement Identify and describe the phases of the nurse-patient relationship Evaluate effective and ineffective communication techniques Identify a strategy or strategies to becoming a successful communicator in nursing Integrate one current article (within the past 5 years) which addresses communication in nursing Use scholarly APA format including title and reference page Use correct grammar with clear and organized writing (do not use first person). Your assignment should be approximately 3-5 pages in length

Answer 1

Communication skills are important for professionals in any career, and people of all walks of life. Good communication helps us get our point across, share information, and listen to and understand others. Effective communication plays an instrumental role throughout a patient’s entire healthcare experience, and a large portion of the responsibility falls on nurses. Responsible for relaying information to a number of individuals, nurses must be able to communicate clearly, especially during periods of intense stress. Good written and verbal communication in nursing is invaluable to all involved. Communication in a healthcare setting is one of the most important tools we have for providing great patient care and improving patient satisfaction. However, lines of communication can frequently be crossed and lead to lower patient satisfaction scores, illnesses or worse. Every patient who comes to a hospital has a team of people involved in providing care throughout their healing process: from doctors and nurses to housekeeping and culinary teams, and even their family and loved ones. With so many parties involved, it's understandable that missteps in communication could occur.

Effective communication between staff and patients is important for the success of any healthcare organization. When healthcare professionals don’t communicate, it can lead to a negative workplace culture and inferior quality of patient care. Taking steps to enhance communication among your entire team will create a better environment for both your employees and patients.

Modern health care systems rely on the efficient and accurate delivery of large amounts of information. Diagnoses and treatments are often based on a variety of data that must be shared among many health care providers. There are vast networks of primary care providers, specialists, therapists, testing centers, medical facilities, and insurance companies working together to provide and coordinate patient care. The timely delivery of accurate information is crucial to system efficacy and efficiency.

Here are some of the effective communication tips that would allow healthcare providers to receive better patient satisfaction.

1. Use Simple Language

Patients tend to trust and rely on the healthcare professionals who use simple words or language that everyone can understand and are comfortable with. Using difficult medical terminologies with patients will not help gain trust and build confidence and neither will it amaze them. Keeping it simple by using non-medical language will provide better patient outcome and help build trust, which is a paramount factor in a doctor-patient relationship.

2. Communicate Precisely and Clearly

When communicating with a patient, nothing is as essential as precision. Ask about their condition and how they are feeling from the beginning and point everything that can be associated with their condition that they may not be able to explain or even comprehend, in chronological order. Ensure not to make any punctuation mistakes when communicating through email or any other mode of communication that requires writing or typing. Be clear and concise. Ask the patients to tell the key points of your message to make sure they are not missing anything.

3. Ask Open-Ended Questions

Many parts of healthcare training emphasize on what to say and ask the patients. Make use of open-ended questions that can be responded to, simply, with a Yes or a No. This method allows patients to reflect on their condition, pain, problems and symptoms.

4. Understand Non-Verbal Signs

Do not ask the patient whether or not they understand your message, because they may respond with a Yes, even if they do not understand. Read non-verbal signs, that is; their facial or body expressions. If the patient jiggles or shivers quietly with a blank look on face, this can be the first indicator that he or she does not understand the instructions provided. Attentiveness for patient history correlates with high patient satisfaction levels.

5. Use Teach-Back Method

The teach-back method is an approach in the field of healthcare to explain information clearly and accurately. This method educates patients with low health literacy and improves understanding and adherence.

6. Use Technology

Technology provides healthcare providers with many ways to communicate with patients, but it should be used correctly. Don’t inundate patients with messages through multiple platforms as it will overwhelm them. Additionally, while using technology for communication, don’t use vague language or insert emoticons when having a rational conversation. Being clear and direct is paramount for healthcare professionals.

7. Listen And Empathize

Listening to and empathizing with patients is of paramount importance. This involves giving them your attention and acknowledging any emotional cues in their history without judging them. Offering support and nonjudgmental advice encourage patients to convey their fears and depression, making them more receptive to treatment by alleviating their anxiety.

8. Establish a Dialogue

Establishing a dialogue will help health care providers determine if the patient agrees or disagrees with the diagnosis and treatment. Patients who don’t agree with diagnosis tend to terminate the following treatment plan eventually. Try not to give them comprehensive information about drug treatments as they may not want to know. Instead, provide them with details about how the procedure will alleviate their pains and suffering.

Adopting effective communication not only improves the doctor-patient relationship, but builds trust as well. Make certain to use a polite tone when conveying your message to the patients, especially seniors. These communication tips will surely help caregivers as well to improve their caregiving skills and gain trust of seniors and job satisfactions.

Patient education allows patients to play a bigger role in their own care. It also aligns with the growing movement toward patient- and family-centered care.

To be effective, patient education needs to be more than instructions and information. Teachers and health care providers need to be able to assess patient needs and communicate clearly.

The success of patient education depends largely on how well you assess your patient's:

•     Needs
•     Concerns
•     Readiness to learn
•     Preferences
•     Support
•     Barriers and limitations (such as physical and mental capacity, and low health literacy)

Often, the first step is to find out what the patient already knows. Use these guidelines to do a thorough assessment before starting patient education:

• Gather clues. Talk to the health care team members and observe the patient. Be careful not to make assumptions. Patient teaching based on incorrect assumptions may not be very effective and may take more time.
• Get to know your patient. Introduce yourself and explain your role in your patient's care. Review their medical record and ask basic get-to-know-you questions.
• Establish a rapport. Make eye contact when appropriate and help your patient feel comfortable with you. Pay attention to the person's concerns.
• Gain trust. Show respect and treat each person with compassion and without judgment.
• Determine your patient's readiness to learn. Ask your patients about their outlooks, attitudes, and motivations.
• Learn the patient's perspective. Talk to the patient about worries, fears, and possible misconceptions. The information you receive can help guide your patient teaching.
• Ask the right questions. Ask if the patient has concerns, not just questions. Use open-ended questions that require the patient to reveal more details. Listen carefully. The patient's answers will help you learn the person's core beliefs. This will help you understand the patient's motivation and let you plan the best ways to teach.
• Learn about the patient's skills. Find out what your patient already knows. You may want to use the teach-back method (also called the show-me method or closing the loop) to figure out what the patient may have learned from other providers. The teach-back method is a way to confirm that you have explained the information in a way that the patient they understand. Also, find out what skills the patient may still need to develop.
• Involve others. Ask if the patient wants other people involved with the care process. It is possible that the person who volunteers to be involved in your patient's care may not be the person your patient prefers to be involved. Learn about the support available to your patient.
• Identify barriers and limitations. You may perceive barriers to education, and the patient may confirm them. Some factors, such as low health literacy may be more subtle and harder to recognize.
• Take time to establish rapport. Do a comprehensive assessment. It is worth it, because your patient education efforts will be more effective.