This assignment explores the importance of communication within nursing practice and identifies the different aspects, such as verbal and non-verbal communication and the barriers which may be encountered and overcome. It will examine and explicate the different concepts of communication and the importance of good interpersonal skills in nursing practice. Effective communication is fundamentally one of the most essential skills required throughout nursing practice and often distinguishes nurses in their level of competence. It is by far the most precious skill that can be developed to ensure the appropriate treatment can be given to the patient whilst under their care. It is a complex multifaceted skill, which must be continuously developed. In today's multicultural society there can often be many barriers to overcome and therefore it is important to consider each culture's language, beliefs and religion, together with the more apparent barriers in society such as poor vision, hearing problems, age, learning difficulties and social class.
[...] Non-verbal communication is a vital part of healthcare and therefore it is essential to establish a good rapport with the patient. A harmonious respect and understanding between the nurse and patient relationship can be highly beneficial to both parties and ultimately enhance the patients stay in hospital. It is also important to show empathy so that the patient feels his situation is understood and sympathized with. Burnard (1990) defined self-awareness as a gradual and continuous process, where one explores the different aspects of one's self from a psychological, behavioral or physical perspective, thus developing and ensuring greater personal and interpersonal understanding. [...]
[...] In this assignment any referrals to nursing practice and/or patients will remain anonymous at all times in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Practice which states that: must treat information about patients and clients as confidential and use it only for the purposes for which it was given. As it is impractical to obtain consent every time you need to share information with others, you should ensure that patients and clients understand that some information may be made available to other members of the team involved in the delivery of care. [...]
[...] Communication in nursing affects all aspects of the fundamentals of care. Therefore nurses must be aware of all barriers within communication in order to ensure that these fundamentals of care are met according to the needs of each individual patient and their relatives. A patient often enters a hospital feeling anxious or scared, in pain or drained from long term suffering, they put their faith in the nursing staff that cares for their every need on a daily basis. They have to deal with embarrassment, feel undignified when even the most basic living activities need assistance; some may feel a burden or nuisance and interaction with the nurse is one of the most important parts of their stay in hospital. [...]
[...] In the health care profession it is recognized that the quality of care provided reflects the quality of communication that exists between the nurse and the patient. It is by direct contact that the patient perceives the intentions of support and the nurse's positive expectations, and likewise the nurse can assess the patient's emotional and physical symptoms. Communication has only been achieved if the message, which has been sent, has been accurately received. Langs states that: ‘Communicative exchanges give substance to our lives; they are essential for survival and growth. [...]
[...] In reality, however, the nurse may be a very friendly and accommodating person with excellent communication skills who happened to be at the end of a very tiring shift and unaware of the impression they were giving. Undoubtedly, the next time this patient saw the nurse in question he/she would be apprehensive about speaking with this particular member of staff or asking for assistance. When a patient is feeling unwell even the most insignificant gesture can often be open to misinterpretation. [...]
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