Effective Communication Skills in Nursing: Critical Reflection and Analysis

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1NURSING
Introduction
The following paper two videos based on the parameter of role play by healthcare
professionals in communicating with the patient. This will be followed by critical reflection
and analysis of the communication approach in detail. The analysis of the video will help to
improve by interpersonal communication skills.
Video: 1 Discharge planning following suicide attempt
The analysis of the video showed that the healthcare practitioner (counsellor) was
successful in establishing therapeutic relationship with the patient (Leslie). The relaxing
posture and communication approach exhibited by the patient showed that she is comfortable
in front of the counsellor in discussing her mental health and personal life. The approach
made by the counsellor (non-verbal communication skills) like the body language,
maintenance of eye contact, active listing and showing concern for the client are few of the
features that paved the way for the establishment of therapeutic relationships. According to
Arnold and Boggs (2019), non-verbal communication skills play an important role in trust
development with the patient and thus helping to increase the provision of care. Death of
Leslie’s mother and complications in the relationship with her boy-friend are the reasons
behind her chronic depression and suicidal attempt. She is also jobless at present that might
be another reason behind her depression. Counsellor handled this sensitive approach with
utmost care by showing empathy and concern for her (client). She was also found telling not
all the people are same she her issue can be dealt easily. This helped in showcasing client
centred approach. Davis Boykins (2014) stated that client centred approach helps in improve
the mental health outcome by highlighting the clinical priority and taking appropriate actions.
Genuineness of care was demonstrated when the counsellor promoted client empowerment in
medication management and also informed her about her future therapy plan. Kilpatrick

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(2013) stated that patient empowerment in the care plan with health literacy helps to promote
faster health recovery. There was no significant noise barrier as the face to face conversation
occurred in a separate room where only two people. Weber and Farrell, T. (2016) stated that
face-to-face conversation in the quite room with limited disturbances helps in increasing the
provision for establishment of therapeutic relationship.
Few of the approaches done by counsellor was excellent for example she shared her
contact details and told Leslie that she is always available for any help. However, in the entire
video, Leslie was fumbling every time she was speaking and she had a teary eye with lots of
pain. She was looking away from the counsellor. As per my understanding, though the
counsellor displayed some of the potential non-verbal communication skills, the overall
micro-communication skills was poor. Thus I would take help of the core micro-
communication skills like us of facts and figures along with the use of reflective feeling to
make Leslie understand that she is not the only one who is suffering from such complex
mental health condition. There are many people who get admitted in the hospital daily with
similar problems like her. In explaining so I will express compassionate and supporting facial
expression in order to make her feel that I am concerned for her. According to McCabe et al.
(2016) stated that micro-communication skills helps in increasing the provision of the person-
centered approach in the mental healthcare plan and thus helping to increase the provision of
care. Betz and Boudreaux (2016) stated that caring for patients with suicidal thoughts is
challenging. However, connecting with their acute emotional pain and helping to reduce their
fear by informing them about the rate of recovery from such complex mental health issue
helps to provide positive motivation and thus helping to increase the level of trust and
decrease in the perplexed mental condition.
Reflection