Communication Skills for Nurses
Reliable communication is an important aspect of most jobs; in healthcare communication can mean the difference between life and death. Nurses must effectively communicate with patients, their family members, and loved ones as well as other nurses, aides, doctors, and people involved in patient care. Nurses communicate in a variety of ways: via written order, telephone, and in person. Each means of communication is important in a healthcare setting.
Nurses must often delegate tasks to other members of the healthcare team. Many new nurses have a difficult time assigning tasks; overall the division of work is more beneficial for the patient and allows for prompt care. It is important for nurses to learn to assign tasks that are appropriate for other care givers. For example, while a nurse is preparing a patient's medications, she can ask an aide to check vital signs or assist a patient with a bath. Nurses must communicate with other nurses in emergent and non emergent situations. They must give accurate and detail focused reports to oncoming nurses when they are finishing a shift; doing so provides the patient with good continuity of care.
Communication between nurses and physicians is very important. During a patient's stay in a clinic or hospital, the nurse is usually the person that spends the most amount of time with a patient and is responsible for monitoring the patient's medication, vital signs, test results, food and liquid intake, output of bodily fluids, physical assessment, and of course changes in condition. The nurse needs to report any changes to the physician in a timely manner so the physician can make any needed adjustments in the patient’s plan of care. Effective communication between the nurse and the doctor can improve patient safety and greatly improve the outcome of a patient's hospital stay.
Nurses also spend a great deal of time communicating with patients. Because the nurse is usually the primary caregiver in the hospital setting, he or she is one of the primary coordinators of care. The nurse is responsible for providing medications, patient teaching, helping to schedule tests, and assisting the patient with activities of daily living. While doing all of these things, the nurse needs to provide emotional support and information to the patient in a kind and reassuring manner. The nurse should attempt to establish a good rapport with the patients so a trusting relationship can be built.
Patients' family members frequently have questions about the care and treatment of their loved ones. Due to strict regulations that prohibit releasing medical information to unauthorized parties, it is important for the nurse to obtain consent of the patient or patient representative before discussing anything with anyone not directly involved with the care of the patient. With the patient's expressed approval, information on the patient's condition can be given to family. A trusting relationship with family members also helps improve patient care and promotes good patient teaching because family members can feel relaxed when they are receiving information. If the patient, family members, and caregivers feel comfortable asking questions, they will have a better understanding of how to promote healthy practices.
A nurse is responsible for communicating with a number of people. Fellow nurses, physicians, aides, therapists, patients, and those who care about them are all partners in care and effective communication puts them all on the same page. Good outcomes and patient safety are dependent on the communication of nurses.
Published: 2009-11-03
