Workplace Communication in Nursing

This assignment examines the crucial role of effective communication in the nursing profession. It analyzes three essential interpersonal communication skills: listening, providing feedback, and asking questions. Furthermore, it delves into two theoretical frameworks – Weber’s Classic Organization Theory and Critical Theory – to understand how organizational structures and power dynamics influence workplace communication within healthcare settings.

Explain the three interpersonal
communication skills of listening,
feedback and questioning
(Word count 1226)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
THREE INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF LISTENING, FEEDBACK
AND QUESTIONING.....................................................................................................................1
Benefits of applying these skills to particular discipline.............................................................2
COMMUNICATION THEORY.....................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Communication skills are most important as they support in transferring ideas and
information in proper manner (Keyton et al. 2013). The present essay is based on analysis of
three key interpersonal skills that involves listening, feedback and questioning in selected
profession which is nursing. Further, all these skills are most significant as they provide the base
in sharing thoughts and the individual to whom information has been shared can act accordingly.
Apart from this, the concept of communication has been supported with the help of
communication theory. Presence of appropriate communication skills supports nurses to perform
better in healthcare profession as ideas can be shared in the better manner, and in turn, it leads to
fruitful results.
THREE INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF LISTENING,
FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONING
The interpersonal communication skills related to listening is considered to be most
significant where this skill requires interpretation of both visual and audio stimuli with the
motive to gain clarification of an idea that is shared with the help of external source. Listening
skill is only effective when nurse is capable enough of gathering facts and on the basis of the
same meaning of the message can be understood easily. Conscious listening directly leads to
effective judgment as in case if any individual is able to listen to the message shared in the
proper manner and can interpret accordingly then this allows in proper judgment. Apart from
this, effective listening skills allow in resolving disputes and another form of issues in the proper
manner with the nursing profession (Rost & Candlin 2014). The most important aspect is to
listen to the message shared in proper manner through proper attention, and if it is not present
then it can adversely influence the communication process
Considering the feedback skill which is also important and it highlights that the message
or idea shared has been understood or not. It is regarded as the key component of interpersonal
communication, and it leads to better flow of information within the nursing profession. In case
if any patient has shared a message with any of the nurse and after sharing the same individual
takes feedback from whom the message has been shared. Then in such case, it allows in knowing
whether the message shared was understood correctly or not. Communication as one of the
process does not flow in one direction and feedback is one of the most integral parts (Mishra,
Boynton & Mishra 2014). Feedback is one of the most significant parts of nonverbal, verbal and
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written communication and it directly generates value in the workplace or in another area where
the message is being shared. It can be expressed that nurses must possess feedback skill, and it
can take place in two forms where a nurse can give feedback to the person who has shared
message or he/she can obtain feedback from others. The key benefit associated with this skill is
that it improves knowledge level and thus, provides better growth opportunity within the nursing
profession.
Questioning skill is also considered to be most important as it allows in avoiding and
correcting mistakes through clarification of the knowledge on a particular topic. Questioning is
regarded as the open-ended process that assists in exploring ideas and issues where it becomes
possible to enhance the knowledge level in a particular period. In order to demonstrate effective
questioning, it is mandatory to differentiate the different type of questions that can be asked
within nursing profession. Generally, various types of questions are present that involves
open/close ended, straightforward, objective questions, etc. It is necessary for nurses to ensure
that questions asked are linked with the subject and has relation with the same (DeVoe &
Wallace 2009). Due to this reason, questioning skill also has its own significance.
Benefits of applying these skills to particular discipline
In the present scenario, communication skills have become essential for carrying out the
smooth flow of operations and functions within nursing processional. Nursers with good
listening skills can enhance their overall productivity, and at the same time, they can solve
problems of patients more effectively (Men 2014). However, it can be critically argued that
development of good listening skills is not an easy task and nurses are required to train properly
to acquire the mentioned-above skills. On the other side of this, the feedback system is also
essential for the long-term growth and success within the nursing profession. Such system in the
discipline of healthcare helps nurses to identify their loopholes or areas where they are lacking.
Based on the information collected, effective measures can be taken to overcome
weakness. On the contrary, it can be argued that negative feedbacks at frequent interval can
result in lowering down the morale and motivation level of nurses to a great extent (Lane 2016).
It can be stated that questioning at the workplace is also beneficial for carrying out the
satisfactory flow of nursing practices. For instance, questioning helps nurses to enhance their
knowledge base and overall productivity. Thus, staff members are able to contribute more to
overall growth and success of the healthcare organization.
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COMMUNICATION THEORY
The overall concept workplace communication can be understood through
communication theory such as Weber’s Classic Organization Theory of the fixed structure. The
theory emphasizes on the fact that to ensure structured, effective and transparent communication;
it is required by the management to operate with the well defined roles and responsibilities of all
the employees (Keyton et al. 2013). The theory focuses on top to bottom approach and this result
in eliminating all sort of confusion in the nursing practices. This communication theory also
highlights the fact that a rigid structure within healthcare organization should be implemented by
the administration so that disruption in the process of communication can be eliminated in the
best possible manner (Dunn & Goodnight 2016). Furthermore, it is more beneficial for
healthcare organizations to provide some decision-making authorities to nurses along with
defining their clear roles and responsibilities.
On the other side of this, critical theory can be also taken into consideration to
understand the workplace communication. The theory emphasize on the fact that emergence of
conflicts within organization is natural and businesses should not worry about the same. Nurse
resistance towards changes, decision and budgets are normal and the other areas or functions of
management should not be adversely affected because of the same.
On the contrary, the theory argues that the nurses working in healthcare organization,
lacks motivation at frequent intervals. Thus, management is required to develop effective
strategies to enhance the morale and motivational level of nurses. The theory highlight that
effective communication between nurses can result in reducing conflicts and issues (Adler,
Rodman & DuPré 2016). At the same time, effective communication can support in enhancing
the morale and motivational level of workers by providing them with clear direction to place
their efforts and resources.
CONCLUSION
It can be inferred that the three interpersonal communication skills of listening,
feedback and questioning are essential for the smooth flow of all functions within the nursing
profession. Furthermore, listening ability helps nurses to become more productive and solve the
problem. On the other hand, it can be inferred that feedback and questioning can result in
enhancing the overall skill set and knowledge base of nurses. The Weber’s Classic Organization
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Theory of fixed structure and critical theory are the two different approaches which can be
considered to understand the concept of workplace communication.
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REFERENCES
Adler, R, Rodman, GR & DuPré, A 2016, Understanding human communication, Oxford
University Press., Oxford.
DeVoe, JE & Wallace, LAFJGE 2009, 'Measuring patients’ perceptions of communication with
healthcare providers: do differences in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics matter?',
Health Expectations, vol 12, no. 1, pp. 70-80.
Dunn, DM & Goodnight, L 2016, Communication: Embracing Difference, Routledge, Abingdon.
Keyton, J, Caputo, JM, Ford, EA, Fu, R, Leibowitz, S, Liu, T, Polasik, SS, Ghosh, P & Wu, C
2013, 'Investigating verbal workplace communication behaviors', The Journal of Business
Communication , vol 50, no. 2, pp. 152-169.
Lane, SD 2016, Interpersonal communication: Competence and contexts, Routledge, Abingdon.
Men, LR 2014, 'Strategic internal communication: Transformational leadership, communication
channels, and employee satisfaction', Management Communication Quarterly, vol 28, no. 2, pp.
264-284.
Mishra, K, Boynton, L & Mishra, A 2014, ' Driving employee engagement: The expanded role
of internal communications', International Journal of Business Communication, vol 51, no. 2,
pp. 183-202.
Rost, M & Candlin, CN 2014, Listening in language learning, Routledge, Abingdon.
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