Importance of Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Nursing

This article discusses the significance of communication and interpersonal skills in nursing, focusing on their role in building effective relationships with patients. It includes a reflection on a personal experience in a cancer ward, highlighting the use of communication skills to address a patient's needs. The article also explores the 6 Cs of communication and their application in healthcare settings.

NURSING

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Communication skills is ability of an individual to share ideas and feelings
effectively. Interpersonal skills are those abilities that enable them to effectively interact
with other people and groups. For nurses communication and interpersonal skills are very
important as they help in building effective relationship between nurses and patient in
healthcare setting. Effective communication skills of nurse enable them to make patients
understand things clearly and this reduces possibility of errors while providing healthcare
services. This reflection will involve how I used communication and interpersonal skills
and this enables to identify strength and weaknesses that I individual have and enables
them to improve upon weaknesses. This reflection will be written using Gibbs framework
of reflection.
MAIN BODY
Description
I was working in a cancer ward of healthcare setting and while working there I
was responsible for looking after an elderly lady who was living there by herself and her
care package included three times care in a day from a private company and it was being
funded by her family. She was about to have a short term stay at ward and this stay
increased because of social and rehabilitation complications of the lady. In her care
primary goal was to rehab back into the care setting. However, because of some
misunderstanding and unclear communication, care company stopped giving services to
lady. This created a very considerable negative impact on her mind. In such situation only
effective communication could help her get out of negative mental state. I understood and
tried to communicate with her. I was aware of 6 Cs of communication and I intended to
apply them while communicating with the lady (Chadwick, 2017).
These 6 Cs included consideration, clarity, conciseness, coherence, correctness
and confidence (). I was very considerate about the lady and her consideration and before
starting communication I was also aware of her mental state. I was also clear about what I
wanted to convey to her to help her. I ensured that I can complete my message in few
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words and she can understand what I wanted to say to her. About coherence I knew that
she is feeling sad and this is why firstly I started with general questions about her health
and then I started asking her about her problem. Regarding correctness there was nothing
to be incorrect and I was concerned with being clear and professional while
communication.
Feeling
Concerned with feeling during the incident and communication with the patient, I
had both positive and negative feelings. I was concerned with problem of patient and was
trying to help her and this was positive feeling for me (Markkanen and et.al., 2020).
However I was also unclear about impact of this incident of my professional practices.
This means that I was not aware whether I can communicate about the lady while she was
not in right mental state. However, I ensured that as one of the standard to maintain their
dignity, I was maintaining dignity of the person while communicating with her. Practice
effectively is another standard for nursing practice and as I understood the problem of
lady I communicated with so that she can be helped with right solution. I was also scared
because being a first year associate nurse I was very having limited knowledge and
understanding of ward-based care and discharging planning. However, nurse associates
supported me and encouraged me and this is why I could communicate with other
healthcare professionals and to ensure effective and required treatment for the lady. Once
the process was completed and after I communicated with patient and also with
healthcare staff about the patient I was feeling very good because I could help the patient.
Evaluation
Concerned with the experience, this experience included both positive and
negative aspects. This means that my confidence was very low and along with being first
year nurse associate I was also scared because I was having limited knowledge and
understanding. I communicated well with patient and also with healthcare staff about
patient however, lack of confidence was something that could have affected my
communication. One of the element of this experience that was really well and this was
learning from the experience (Li and et.al., 2020). This helped me realise how important
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effective and clear communication is for healthcare staff and nurses and what result can
ineffective communication can have. Other than this, throughout the communication with
healthcare staff and family of patient, patient was central point and well-being of patient
was considered as top priority. I also consider that trust that I was able to build with
patient was also one of the very positive aspect of this experience, because for healthcare
service provider trust in patient and staff is very important. Regarding interaction I felt
that patient was feeling little uncomfortable because she was in a challenging and
complicated situation because of her family and care giving company.
Analysis
The reason because of which experience went well was my knowledge about
different aspects of communication through which I can build trust in patient. Other than
this, I learned things because I became able to understand importance of communication
through real and practical examples. It was first time that I realised that unclear
communication have make considerable negative impact on patient and this is why
healthcare staff needs to have effective communication skills. I also realised that the
reason I was having lack of confidence was that I was having lack of knowledge about
ward-based care and discharge of the patient. Concerned with trust that I was able to
build with patient was mainly because of my communication skills and my consideration
and concern for the patient. This is one of the very important standard of nursing that is to
prioritise people (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018). I could see that patient is
feeling bad because she has been denied services and for her mobility was also a big
concern. I realised such things and its mental effect can create stress for the patient and
can make further complication for them in their health and well-being. I communicated
with patient and asked about problem and assured the patient that her problems will be
solved soon and her care will also resume shortly. This reduced stress for the patient and
I realised that patient was able to have trust in me and this is also important for other
patients, that they trust their service provider. One of the very important analysis from the
experience and learning for future is that patients’ family should be included rightly for
care related decisions of the patient. Communication plays very important role in this and
making clear and constant communication with family of patient is as important as
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making clear and constant communication with patient. This experience was overall a
very beneficial in learning how communication is important and what aspects of
communication are crucial to make it effective. I realised that communication was also
done with sensitivity, and compassion which is very important for giving high quality
person-centred care (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018).
Conclusion
On the basis of above discussion, it can be concluded that being for nurses
effective communication is very important. I realised that I have good communication
skills and also realised that lack of confidence can affect my ability to communicate
effectively (He, Parkinson and Doyle, 2018). I also realised some other benefits of
communication for a healthcare professional. I realised that in future written
communication and its effectiveness is also important and I will develop it, so that I can
work effectively as a healthcare service provider. Overall learning experience was very
good and helped me identifying my strength and weakness as healthcare professional.
Reflecting and evaluation and analysis of experience is also very important and I realised
this after reflecting communication experience with the patient during healthcare
practice. On the basis of overall experience an action plan for further improving skills
and knowledge required for healthcare professional and nurse is developed (Tanaka,
Okamoto and Koide, 2018).
Action Plan
Skills Goal Strategy Resources Time
Written
communication
skills
To ensure that I
am able to apply
principles of
communication
in written
communication
and make it as
effective as oral
communication
In order to
improve written
communication
skills, assistance
of online courses
can be taken and
also learning
nursing related
written
Computer and
internet for
online courses.
Books and
essentials for
practicing
written
communication
skills
4-6 Months
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communication
skill from
seniors.
Practicing
written
communication
skills regularly.
Improving
confidence
To present my
thoughts and
opinion
effectively and
enabling others
to trust thoughts
and feelings
Having
knowledge and
skills so that I
can become
confident while
presenting ideas
and opinion.
No specific
resources are
required for
developing this
skill and
improving
confidence
6-8 Months
Improving
knowledge of
nursing practice
To enhance
overall
effectiveness
related to nursing
and providing
best possible care
to patients
Using books and
literature to
increase
knowledge
Books, nursing
literature and
information
through seniors
and other
practitioners
Continuous
practice
Improving
interpersonal
skills
To developing
ability to
effectively
interact with
other individuals
and groups and
patients and
their families
Taking
assistance from
courses available
and learning
from experiences
and observing
others with
effective
interpersonal
skills
Computer and
internet, books
and literature
6-8 Months
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Chadwick, D., 2017. Care, compassion, courage, commitment, communication and
competence: the 6 Cs. Journal of perioperative practice. 27(10). pp.209-211.
He, K.N., Parkinson, L. and Doyle, A.K., 2018. Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle.
Li, Y and et.al., 2020. Nurses’ Psychological Feelings About the Application of Gibbs
Reflective Cycle of Adverse Events. American Journal of Nursing. 9(2). pp.74-
78.
Markkanen, P and et.al., 2020. A reflective cycle: Understanding challenging situations
in a school setting. Educational Research. 62(1). pp.46-62.
Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018. Standards of proficiency for nursing associates.
Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018. The Code: Professional standards of practice and
behaviour for nurses and midwives. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Tanaka, M., Okamoto, R. and Koide, K., 2018. Relationship between Reflective Practice
Skills and Volume of Writing in a Reflective Journal. Health. 10(3). pp.283-
288.
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