Patient and coworker interactions in healthcare settings

Communication Discussion Board Response

I would have to respectfully disagree with the idea that communication is mainly about being clear in one's verbal and nonverbal language. A nurse can clearly communicate how to follow a healthy diet to a diabetic -- or the need to stay clean to a drug addict -- but unless the nurse comprehends the patient's own view of his or her situation, such as the real medical need to follow the diet or the dangers of drug abuse, communication has not transpired in an effectual fashion. It is just as important that the nurse understand the patient's body language, to assess whether he or she is listening, and to ask the patient to restate the treatment plan, and to repeat what he or she feels about his or her condition.

Discussion

You make a very important point that the process of communicating with patients isn't about conducting a single dialogue. It is an ongoing process. Especially in situations where the nurse must encourage lifestyle changes on the part of the patient, the nurse must repeat the same advice over and over again, in different ways, until the patient puts the words into practice. Often, until someone does something, they don't understand why it is so beneficial. Communication is about fostering relationships. This is also true about working with co-workers, as communication between work team members is essential for the unit to function effectively.

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