Communication in Nursing: Strategies, Barriers, and Interprofessional Practice

Running Head: COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 1
COMMUNICATION IN NURSING
Name
Institutional Affiliation

COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 2
Introduction
A healthcare practitioner dealing with different types of clients requires the application of
specific strategies. The use of professional skills in the communication process is particularly
important in that it facilitates the sufficient resolution of challenges affecting an individual by
improving information sharing between the healthcare provider and the client. Catherine is a
client whose traumatizing experience involving her friend has significantly affected her. As a
result of an incident where a stove burned her friend, the sight of a stove seems to scare her. She
seems to be suffering from a post-traumatic stress syndrome. Considering her experience,
cultural background and my professional practice communicating Catherine as a counselor
would require me to use my professional skills not only to communicate and help relieve her
stress but also solve any emerging communication challenges in the counseling process. Dealing
with Catherine’s issue effectively requires both the use of effective communication skills and
collaborative therapy.
The model of communication to be used in communicating with the client. With an
understanding of the importance of the communication model adopted in the success of the
counseling exercise, I would assume a transactional model of communicating with the client.
Transaction model of communication refers to two-way communication between the sender and
receiver of information. Under this model, each party to the conversation alternatively sends and
receives information. The interaction with my client would be interpersonal which makes
transaction model the most effective for this setting. The effectiveness of this model is based on

COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 3
the fact that the communication process would require the input of both the sender and the
receiver interchangeably (Blais, Hayes, Kozier & Erb, 2015). This model would allow seeking
clarifications and getting feedback from my client. It would also let us keep the conversation
alive.
Developing rapport with the client. The effectiveness of the communication process
would also be determined by the existing rapport between me as and my client. It would
influence the extent to which she would be willing to share with me about her experiences. As s
professional I understand that it is essential to build trust and establish good communication with
my clients. Through rapport building, the outcome of the communication process would be
positive and satisfactory to my client. I would, therefore, use the following strategies to build
rapport with my clients. First I would seek to know more about my client. This would involve
talking about her life interests, hobbies, family, friends as a way of taking her mind off of the
issue that she is dealing with. This would not only allow us to find common areas of interest, but
it would also shift her mind to happier things she has experienced (O'hagan et al., 2014).
Secondly, I would show empathy for the situation that she is currently facing. By empathizing
with her, I would indicate that I do care and feel for her. Thirdly I would do that by displaying a
high level of confidence. By being confident, I would reassure my client that I am entirely in
control of the situation which would make her less worried about any adverse outcome. I would
use effective communication from the start to the end of the process. Through effective
communication with my client, I would establish a friendship bond and trust with my client.
Effective communication would include listening to all the views, assumption and concerns for
my client before arriving at any conclusion. Finally, I would also build rapport by showing