Therapeutic Relationships and Effective Communication in Healthcare: An Annotated Bibliography

This annotated bibliography explores the importance of effective communication and therapeutic relationships in healthcare. The subjects targeted include nurses, patients, and healthcare informatics. The competencies required for patient-centered care are discussed, as well as the importance of empathy and compassion in nursing communication. The bibliography includes four research papers that provide detailed insights into the need for effective communication and the importance of nursing empathy and compassion.

Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
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1ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Topic: Therapeutic relationships and effective communication in Healthcare
Davis Boykins, A. (2014). Core communication competencies in patient-centered
care. ABNF Journal, 25(2). Retrieved from: https://web.b.ebscohost.com/abstract?
direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=10467041&AN=95591070
&h=FX4dUlH5mDpdc%2fzts4dy0zUhP4XWcVdBPIlzqeTegDreaZEq97Fpyt02luhu
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spx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler
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The primary focus of Davis Boykins (2014), is to explore nursing core competences for
conductance of effective communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare informatics
and patient-centered care. The study is a secondary qualitative analysis to examine the
standardized nursing competency tools. The subjects targeted by the author include nurses. One
of the primary communication competencies which nurses must adhere to is Standard 1.1
(Communication) of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Standards of Professional Nursing
Practice which dictates nurses to evaluate on improving their own as well as their patient
communication through appropriate disclosure, care rationalization and interdisciplinary
interactions. Nurses must also adhere to patient centered care which encourages patients to
participate actively in their care plan formulation. Nurses must be receptive to barriers in
communication and hence, conduct patient communication in accordance with the patient’s
health literacy labels. Lastly, considering the multidisciplinary nature of healthcare and medical
technology advancement, nurses must not only engage in inter-professional communication but
also effectively learn to use healthcare informatics and electronic documentation as per federal as

2ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
well as ANA’s standards. The authors concluded by stating that nursing adherence to such
communication tools results in deliverance of quality healthcare. While extensive examination
on the required competencies is the strength of this paper, generalized discussion, lack of
argument or any identification of limitations in existing standards are weaknesses. This paper is
useful in its discussion on basic and essential nursing competencies which be useful as a
foundational starting point for research on effective communications and therapeutic healthcare
relationships.
Bramhall, E. (2014). Effective communication skills in nursing practice. Nursing Standard
(2014+), 29(14), 53. doi: 10.7748/ns.29.14.53.e9355.
The primary focus of the review article by Branhall (2014) is the importance of
conducting effective nursing communication skills for the purpose of guiding nurses on adoption
of a conscious, compassionate and empathetic communication and therapeutic relationships. The
research method utilized by the authors is a secondary qualitative analysis and the subjects are
nurses. The authors note that communication is one of the most fundamental nursing values and
institutes must focus on adopting educational courses on nursing communication , to equip
nurses in the management of critical life situations such as end-of-life care which necessitates
adequate interpersonal communication. The authors also note that following and empathetic and
compassionate approach will improve nursing-patient relationships by assisting patients in the
management of anxiety associated with treatment and diagnosis. Authors conclude by suggesting
cues such as listening, reflection, questioning, clarification and patience to mitigate
communication barriers. Detailed insights into the need for effective communication coupled
with a discussion on nursing empathy and compassion are some of the major strengths of this
paper. Provision of cues to manage communication barriers as well critiquing the nursing

3ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
educational courses on the need for communication teaching are additional strengths. However,
the authors lack of sufficient arguments against existing practices coupled with an absence of
discussion on cultural competence in communication are major limitations. This paper’s
usefulness lies in providing me a guidance to manage patient barriers as well as encouragement
to research on empathy and compassion during writing my study on therapeutic relationships and
effective nursing communication.
Doherty, M., & Thompson, H. (2014). Enhancing person-centred care through the
development of a therapeutic relationship. British Journal of Community Nursing, 19(10),
502-507. doi: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2014.19.10.502.
The primary focus of the research by Doherty and Thompson (2014) is the therapeutic
relationship established by a district nursing student in patient care. The research method used is
a case study approach where the subjects targeted are the district nursing student and elderly
patient. District nurses have a unique responsibility to foster community care across diverse
patients. The authors note the importance of a holistic tool such as the Northern Ireland Single
Assessment Tool considering complex patient health conditions. The authors explored how the
nature of the initial nursing assessment affect patient judgments and comfort and the importance
of active listening and non-verbal communication in the management of unruly patients.
Additional competencies include: empathy, compassion and open ended questioning to gain in-
depth insight into the patient’s needs and preferences. The authors concluded by stating the
importance of conducting holistic post treatment follow up, family centered approaches and how
barriers such as inconvenient work environments, compassion fatigue and time limitations can
grossly affect personal lives of nurses. Adoption of a detailed case approach which highlighted
the importance of initial assessment and follow ups, coupled by a consideration of problems

4ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
faced by nurses are key strengths of this paper. Lack of evaluation of the limitations of care
given as well as coping strategies to manage fatigue are weaknesses. This paper is useful since it
will encourage improvement of follow up and assessments as wells identify compassion fatigue
which can be incorporated not only in research but also in future nursing practice.
Pelzang, R. (2010). Time to learn: understanding patient-centred care. British journal of
nursing, 19(14), 912-917. doi: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2010.19.14.49050.
The primary focus of the research conducted by Pelzang (2010) are opinions and
concepts outlining patient centered care with the aid of a research approach of literature review.
The subjects targeted by the author include nurses. The authors highlight acceptable definitions
of patient centered care and state that such a healthcare encompasses the incorporation of patient
preferences, needs and opinions and their autonomy in the decision-making process. The author
discusses various model of patient centered care such as the system approach which adopts
hierarchical care perspectives and the process model which necessitates direct adoption of patient
perceptions. Deliverance of successful holistic treatment, enhancement of patient-nurse
relationship and improvement of healthcare team functioning are advantages of patient center
care. The authors note the importance of competencies dictating patient centered care such as
nursing leadership, patient and family involvement, clarified strategy formulation and timely
feedback analysis. Lack of adequate educational resources, definitions and team cooperation may
hinder patient centered care practice. The authors conclude that the need for increased
interdisciplinary health professional involvement may result in financial constraints. Detailed
discussion and critical evaluation of patient centered care practices are major strengths of this
paper, the lack of discussion of ethical issues of nursing autonomy which may arise in
conductance of the same is a major weakness. Patient centered approaches form the cornerstone

5ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
of positive healthcare therapeutic relationships and hence, the usefulness of this research lies in
its encouragement to critically reflect upon existing nursing research and nursing practices in the
clinical environment.

6ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bibliography
Bramhall, E. (2014). Effective communication skills in nursing practice. Nursing Standard
(2014+), 29(14), 53. doi: 10.7748/ns.29.14.53.e9355.
Davis Boykins, A. (2014). Core communication competencies in patient-centered care. ABNF
Journal, 25(2). Retrieved from: https://web.b.ebscohost.com/abstract?
direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=10467041&AN=955910
70&h=FX4dUlH5mDpdc%2fzts4dy0zUhP4XWcVdBPIlzqeTegDreaZEq97Fpyt02luhu
%2f2Mbl1asMPk2ojqIKAZwu6cJEQ%3d
%3d&crl=c&resultNs=AdminWebAuth&resultLocal=ErrCrlNotAuth&crlhashurl=login.a
spx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler
%26jrnl%3d10467041%26AN%3d95591070.
Doherty, M., & Thompson, H. (2014). Enhancing person-centred care through the development
of a therapeutic relationship. British Journal of Community Nursing, 19(10), 502-507.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2014.19.10.502.
Pelzang, R. (2010). Time to learn: understanding patient-centred care. British journal of
nursing, 19(14), 912-917. doi: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2010.19.14.49050.