Understanding communication theory is important in the field of nursing

Understanding communication theory is important in the field of nursing.

Nurses need a wide understanding of communication theory in order to engage in successful communication with a diverse population.  Nurses need to have successful communication skills to engage different genders, ages, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as people with varying mental and emotional states.  Nurses often see people at their worst and good communication skills can make all the difference in difficult circumstances.  This essay will look at communication theory, different types and methods of communication and how they relate to nursing, as well as the importance of good communication skills in the field of nursing.

What is communication? Communication is the exchange of information by which a message is coded sent in the form of symbols and signs received and decoded and information is obtained (Kossen, Kiernan & Lawrence, 2013).

Communication theory studies the techniqueal aspects of communication, how information is processed between individuals.  There are three communication theories, the interactive view – a view where meaning rests in the relationships between people rather than the message itself.  The linear (or one-way) view – a view where communication is built on the fact that meaning is contained within the message alone. The transactional view – looks at the meaning as being constantly negotiated by the interacting parties (Kossen, et al, 2013). How nurses communicate is important. Transactional means that communication is an ongoing and continuously changing process. You are changing, the people with whom you are communicating are changing, and your environment is also continually changing as well (Kossen et al, 2013). In any transactional process, each element exists in relation to all the other elements. There is this interdependence where there can be no source without a receiver and no message without a source. Each person in the communication process reacts depending on factors such as their background, prior experiences, attitudes, cultural beliefs and self-esteem (Kossen et al, 2013).

The different types of communication include oral, written, non verbal and visual. Oral communication can be between two people with an even exchange or one person talking to a large group. Written communication can be in the form of signs, sent as an e-mail to one or more people.  Non verbal can be body language or hand signals that relay information and visual communication can be pictures or warning signs (Kossen, et al 2013).

In the field of nursing there are many important types of communication, there is written communication in the form of patient notes these are intended to be objective clinical notes about a patient’s progress or instructions around that patients care.  Written communication can be in the forms of referrals where one health service provider is seeking the advice or treatment from another health service provider.  Nurses learn to write these notes early in their career as a communication between health professionals.  Oral communication is the use of words or language (Kossen, Kiernan & Lawrence, 2013).  Oral communication can also be linked with visual communication such as patient information handouts or a power point presentation to assist the delivery of an in service.  The speaker’s body language is also important, body language must be considered when communicating orally, the audience can pick up clues from the speakers body language (Enuson, 2008)  When delivering bad news to a patient it would be extremely distressing if the nurse was smiling or fidgeting (Enuson, 2008). Listening and empathy are considered important communication skills in the nursing profession (Bach & Grant, 2009).   Communication impairments results from a reduction , deviation or loss of any physical or psychological part of the body that is used for communication (O’Halloran, Worrall & Hickson, 2012).Such impairments can lead to difficulty in describing symptoms or understanding medical problems.  This is known as a communication activity limitation (O’Halloran et al, 2012).

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of communication. In relation to the field of nursing oral communication, saves time the message is received quickly, conversation can occur between the nurses and patient, however there is no proof of the conversation after it has happened, miscommunications can happen (Kossen, 2013).  With written communication it is not personal, there is a time delay, and there is no option for conversation. Although written communication can reach many people at once for example a health warning from the government can be sent to out to all health professionals via e-mail (Kossen, 2013). Nurses must consider cultural aspects of communication, especially if nursing across different cultures. The indigenous of Australia do not make eye contact, it is considered rude.  They also take their time to think about an answer this could be perceived as poor communicators, shyness rudeness or any other number of things.  The patient could end up misdiagnosed or treated because of communication limitations between the nurse and the patient (Walsh, Jordon & Apolloni (2009).

Good communication skills are advantageous in the nursing profession (Brereton, 1995).  Nursing is a profession that relies heavily on many types of communication, with very different audiences there is communication between other health services provides, medical professionals such as Doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists as well as Patients and their families.  Knowing the audience is important when communicating, this is effective in working out which communication method to use and what aids might be valuable (Enuson, 2008).  There is evidence to suggest that nurses rate their communication skills as high, however patient surveys indicate the opposite is true (Bach & Grant, 2009).  If communication fails in nursing the outcome could be negative towards the patients care , for example nurses are required to ‘hand over’ their patients at the end of each shift, this is usually done in a group setting where a lot of information has to be passed on in a small amount of time.  If a nurse fails to pass on some information regarding a fall the patient had earlier in the shift then assessment and possible injuries could be missed (Bach & Grant, 2009). 

A nurse must be able to communicate in a medial language to Doctors and health services and then communicate in turn to a patient at a level they can understand.  Often a patient may have mild to severe communication deficits for example a stroke patient. Nurses need to be able to communicate well in order to look after patients appropriately (Salmon & Young, 2011) Communication skills are now taught to nursing students (Salmon & Young, 2011). Interpersonal climate affects the way in which we deliver the communication, this is not measurable rather the overall emotional mood between people (Woods, 2012).   If talking to a patient about their dying wishes the nurse should remain calm and objective while being empathetic, the patient needs to be reassured that in their last moments their wishes will be met.  In Healthcare settings, there are many complexities which are similar to our everyday lives but are enhanced by factors such as institutional policy, the environment, hierarchies of responsibility, pain and discomfort, anxiety, sadness and fear, we have an even more complicated set of circumstances to deal with than when we communicate or interact with family or friends  (Bach & Grant, 2009).  Healthcare interactions are with patients, carers and peers in often demanding and stressful circumstances, which inevitably lead to further demands on our abilities to communicate effectively (Bach & Grant, 2009)

The information that needs to be exchanged in a medical setting is often critical (Kasper, Legare, Scheibler & Geiger, 2011).  Communication is vital in all aspects of nursing, through treatment, therapy, education, rehabilitation and health promotion; Nursing is achieved through dialogue interpersonal environment and good verbal communication skills (Kasper, et al, 2011).

Understanding communication theory is important in the field of nursing.  By understanding communication theory a nurse can better communicate at all levels.  By understanding how the message is passed and received, processed and returned in an exchange of information, the nurse can constantly assess the understanding of information shared. Understanding the target audience, the types of communication available and the advantages of these, can aid the nurse in choosing a delivery method or environment for communication to occur. A nurse is better equipped to communicate in an environment which is often fast paced and with a target audience that can have communication impairments or with other health professionals where the language and culture is structured, if they have a good knowledge of communication theory and can develop good communication skills as a result.

 

References

Bach, S and Grant, A, 2005, communication and interpersonal skills for nurses Learning matters. USA.

 

Brereton, M 1995, Communication in nursing: the theory-practice relationship. Journal of Advanced Nursing vol21 314-324.

 

Eunson, B 2008, communicating in the 21st century, 2nd edn, John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd., Milton, pp. 343–75, 379–81.

 

Kasper, Legare, Scheibler & Geiger, 2011, Turning Signals into meaning – ‘Shared decision making’ meets communication theory. Health expectations vol 15 3-33.

 

Kossen,C, KiernanE, & Lawrence,J, 2013, Communicating for Success Pearson. Australia .

 

O’Halloran, Worrall & Hickson, 2012, Stroke patients communicating their healthcare needs in hospital: a study within the ICF framework International journal of language and communication disorders vol47no2, 130-143.

 

Salmon & Young, 2011, Creativity in clinical communication: from communication skills to skilled communication. Medical education vol 45 217-226.

 

Walsh, K, Jordon, Z, & Apolloni, 2009, The problematic art of conversation: communication and health practice evolution.  Practice Development in Health Care Vol 8 issue 3 166-179.

 

Woods, JT 2012, Communication in our lives, 6th edn, Wadsworth, Boston, Massachusetts, pp. 172–98.