Communication is a core skillset in many professions, especially within the nursing field. It is known as one of the six Cs of effective nursing taught in depth at colleges and universities, and it is also reiterated throughout your nursing career. Communication is essential in nursing, especially when it comes to patients receiving the quality care they need.
Communication skills are vital in terms of nurse-to-patient communication, as well as collaboration with other colleagues and fellow nurses. Communication works two ways. On the one hand, nurses who take the time to understand and truly listen to their patients’ concerns are better equipped to help address the issue at hand, thus resulting in better patient treatment and better outcomes. On the other hand, poor communication can have the opposite result. It can lead to patients misunderstanding their diagnosis or treatment plan. It can also lead to medical errors due to workflow breakdowns among team members. A report released by the Joint Commission found that 80% of serious medical errors were the result of miscommunication.
Communication is the single most important skill nurses can possess, as it can help to improve patient-to-nurse communication. It makes patients feel more comfortable to disclose the real symptoms they are experiencing as well as the extent to which they are experiencing them. The best way to develop your communication skills is through real-world experiences. Examples would be hands-on training through clinical rotations at a hospital. Many nursing schools in Georgia, for example, provide students with this type of hands-on training experience.
Effective Communication Skills for Nurses
Especially in healthcare, good communication means that you approach each patient interaction with the intention to understand the patient’s symptoms and help to diagnose their concern. However, good communication is not just verbal. It can involve active listening and patient teach-back techniques. These communication skills are all things you will learn about throughout your schooling. Below are some communication skills that are vital for nurses to practice.
1. Verbal Communication
Verbal communication is what people typically think of when they hear the term “communication,” simply because it is the most common way that people interact with each other. However, to have effective verbal communication skills, you must speak with honesty, correctness, and clarity. Verbal communication will vary depending on the age of the patient. For instance, you wouldn’t use big terminology around a 5-year-old patient, and you wouldn’t use a childish tone when speaking to an older patient. Other things to consider when it comes to verbal communication are a patient’s level of health literacy and culture. Lastly, being a nurse is a stressful role, so you need to ensure that you aren’t carrying any frustration or emotions into your tone of voice while speaking to patients.
2. Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is just as important, if not more, than verbal communication. Nonverbal communication involves things such as body language, gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, tone of voice, and posture. The best thing you can do is put on a smile, regardless of if you truly want to. By maintaining positive nonverbals, it will show the patient you are interested in what they are saying, and the patient will feel more comfortable to be open and truthful with you about their symptoms and health history.
3. Written Communication
Although written communication skills aren’t as important when it comes to nurse-to-patient interactions, they are vital for nurse-to-nurse communication. Nurses are responsible for updating and creating a patient’s medical records. These records must be up-to-date and accurate so the patient can receive the best medical attention possible. To develop good written communication, many nurses take notes while meeting with a patient. However, you also must write legibly, use simple terminology, and include times and dates with each note that you write down.
4. Active Listening
Active listening is a skill that many of us have learned from a young age. It means listening to understand, not just simply listening to forget. This is the most effective form of listening, as it requires both engagement and attention. Active listening involves a mixture of both verbal and nonverbal communication, as you want to respond to patients, but never interrupt them. Active listening helps to build trust with the patient, as it shows them that you truly care about what they are experiencing.
5. Patient Teach-Back
As a nurse, it is your responsibility to inform patients and their family members about health conditions, treatment plans and medication dosages. Patient teach-back involves asking the patient or family member to repeat back the information that you provided them. For example, as a nurse you may provide medication instructions to a patient. Afterwards, you may ask the patient: “Can you repeat back to me the instructions for taking the medication and your daily dosage?”
6. Compassion
Finally, compassion is essential when it comes to good communication skills. Studies released by the Journal of Compassionate Health Care show that compassion plays a key role in fast recovery from acute illness. It also helps to relieve patients’ anxiety and helps them to manage their chronic illness better. Compassion is simple. All it involves is putting yourself into the patient’s shoes.
Communication is a vital skill for those considering a career in nursing. Whether it is in terms of verbal or nonverbal communication, they are equally essential to team collaboration and your day-to-day patient interactions. If you have a passion for helping others and possess good communication skills, considering a career in nursing may be a great option for you!