Communication is an essential tool used in all forms in every position and career. The method of communication used depends on the location and atmosphere of the people involved. Nursing at any level will include several forms of communications. Let us take into the consideration the staff nurse or bedside nurse, we communicate with our patient, other nurses, supervisors, and physicians. Whether it is through written, verbal, or non-verbal methods, communication utilization in every effort of the shift.
What is communication?
Communication is the transfer of ideas from one person to another. The nurse communicates in the form of information or instructions. The transmission of ideas is a vital part of the daily shift. In our standard human development, we have all gain a proficient level of communication, but when the general public is involved learning to optimize your message, for different people will require more practice and a better understanding of both nonverbal and verbal cues.
Levels and the Groups Receiving the Message
There are different levels of communication. These levels based on the group size receiving the message. They range from intrapersonal communication to public discussions. Intrapersonal communications, which includes a self-monolog, your thought process, or talking to one’s self. Interpersonal communication is set between two people, the A and B conversation. Small group and public disclosure are where more considerable public speaking takes place. The small group may consist of two or more, a cluster of friends exchanging comments. Public speaking would be a group of ten people; this is where most people begin to have anxiety somewhere between the small group and the general speaking numbers.
Components and Terms
The purpose of communication is known as the referent. The referent example could be to inform a patient on a proper diet with a new diagnosis of diabetes, assessing a new patient, and announcing your actions and plans. In all communications there are two people involved with the sender, the one who is transferring the idea or message, and the receiver, the one who is receiving the message. The message is the idea or information expressed between the sender and the receiver. The ways the message is transferred is referred to as the channel, and the channel includes hearing the message by verbal communication, reading the information, or touch. The environment of communication takes into account the setting in which the message is transferred, a large group watching a comedy show, versus a small family given an update on their family member in hospice. The environment within these two situations will be dramatically different, the tone and message will be different. Between the sender and the receiver after the initial message is sent the receiver will reply with feedback. The feedback is a confirmation of whether or not the message was received and understood, and then an ongoing communication depending on the group size will continue. In many situations where a patient is hard of hearing, speaks a different language, or cognitively unable to process information with accuracy, these influencers of the message are called interpersonal variables. Interpersonal variables will influence how the message is received, how the message is given and whether the feedback is positive or negative.
Nursing and communication are heavy-handed. Everything nurses do is some form of communication. Documenting your assessment is a form of written communication to inform physicians and other nurses of events or the state of your patient. Communication is essential whether it’s another nurse, patient, or patient’s family. Grasping the foundation of communication is only the beginning of reaching proficient levels.
References
Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Hall, A., & Stockert, P. A. (2013). Fundamentals of nursing(8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier. 309-313.
Fundamentals for nursing. (2010). Place of publication not identified: ATI Nursing education. 320-321.