Effective Communication in Nursing

This article discusses the importance of effective communication in nursing and how it can be applied in different situations. It reflects on a communication experience with a patient and his wife, and how the theory of five W's was used to provide clear and reassuring information. The article also highlights the three primary styles of communication in nursing and how they can be used to overcome adverse situations. References are provided for further reading.

Running head: COMMUNICATION
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN NURSING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1COMMUNICATION
Communication is an important aspect of healthcare as it helps the nurse to understand
the patents experience about healthcare interventions applied to improve his/her health condition
(Alligood, 2017). In this assignment I will be reflecting on one such effective communication
which I evolved after applying it to several situations.
This communication experience was with a 65 year old Greek patient Jake, who was
admitted to hospital after having severe pain in his lower abdomen, with bloating. He was
identified with irritable bowel syndrome and while informing this to his wife Maria, I used the
communication theory of Lasswell, which is also known as the theory of five W’s (Vangelisti,
Daly & Friedrich, 2013). I informed her that his patient is suffering from IBS as well as anxiety,
which made her tensed. However, with this clear message, I modified the communication theory
by assuring her that quality care and proper medication will improve her husband’s health
condition (Dougherty & Lister, 2015). Which provided her relief and she started trusting on the
healthcare process by providing her complete support. Hence, the communication process was
effective and successful.
From the undergraduate nursing degree, three primary style of communication I have
witnessed, which has helped to overcome any adverse situation or respond to any good or neutral
situation. These are personal relationships, active listening and nonverbal communication. In the
complex nursing work culture, it is very important to develop a nursing communication skills as
communication is a process which cannot follow a bound path (Alligood, 2017). Therefore I also
developed a communication style in which I try to listen to people first and then help them to
grasp the knowledge through my understanding. The primary influence for this evolution was
complex patient situations, in which patient as well as their family member were not being able

2COMMUNICATION
to understand the verbal communication process. Hence, dealing with such situation helped me
to understand the primary concerns and then with sign language, body gestures and other form of
non-verbal communication I try to educate my patient and their family about their health
condition (Arnold & Boggs, 2015).
This above-mentioned situation described that situations faced in healthcare facility
helped me to influence my own communication style depending on the theories and concepts of
communication I have learned on my undergraduate course.

3COMMUNICATION
References
Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing Theorists and Their Work-E-Book, 9th edition, pp. 65-78,
Elsevier Health Sciences.
Arnold, E. C., & Boggs, K. U. (2015). Interpersonal Relationships-E-Book: Professional
Communication Skills for Nurses. 7th edn, pp. 125-145, Elsevier Health Sciences.
Dougherty, L., & Lister, S. (Eds.). (2015). The Royal Marsden manual of clinical nursing
procedures, 9th edn, pp. 34-156, John Wiley & Sons.
Vangelisti, A. L., Daly, J. A., & Friedrich, G. W. (2013). Teaching communication: Theory,
research, and methods, 6th edn, pp. 23-98, Routledge.