Reflection on Interpersonal Communication Skills

This assignment focuses on the reflection of an individual's interpersonal communication skills developed during a nursing placement. It outlines daily interactions with various stakeholders, including supervisors, families of patients, colleagues, seniors, and patients themselves. The individual reflects on their thoughts, feelings, strengths, areas for improvement, and overall goal achievement in each interaction. The document concludes with a self-assessment of communication skills based on feedback received from tutors and peers.

Running head: REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
Interpersonal communication is a process of exchanging information, emotions and
thoughts using verbal or non-verbal skills. It is a face-to-face communication process in which,
verbal and nonverbal messages are delivered using facial expressions, body language, voice tone
and body gestures (Ralph & Moloney, 2015). Communication is such an important and essential
skill that enhances the quality of life by human-to-human interactions. Nature of nursing practice
is impossible without communication skills, as the profession demands the practitioner to
communicate with several people in daily life.
Reflection is a process of changing experiences into learnings. In the nursing profession,
it increases the effect of care provided and enhances the therapeutic relationship (Bulman,
Lathlean & Gobbi, 2012). With this idea, I will be reflecting on the experience of interpersonal
communication with several people in my daily life as well as of online interpersonal
communication skill test.
I had to record my interpersonal communication over a ten-day period, as it was a part of
my assessment three program. Hence, in the following essay, I will reflect on the past 10-day’s
communication journal in my daily life.
The first day of my assessment started like any other day. I reported at the hospital as per
my shift time. I started my work with everyday routine of ward rounds. I was there with a team
of 10 people, and it was our duty to commence the daily rounds. My aim today was to find out
my ability while having a peer review about myself. Hence, I decided to conduct a feedback
session to find out my abilities in handling negative comments. I asked my team members to rate
my personality on a scale of ten and give reasons for the same.

2REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
As per the peer review, four of them rated me below five, and the reason provided was I
did not care about anybody, and I do not help people in need. I was unaware of this side of my
personality, and while reading the negative feedback, I felt little disappointed. If I did not ask
them about my negative side, they would not have mentioned it ever. However, after few
minutes I felt positive as well because I had another nine days to improves this side of my
personality and improve my interpersonal communication skills.
As my day progressed, I interacted with a registered nurse, for clarification on health
conditions in acute antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis department. As I lack knowledge in this
regard, the assistance of the registered nurse to understand the symptoms and few health
interventions were necessary. After the communication ended, I asked the nurse to comment
about my compatibility and listening skills in the conversation. This was my second personality
skill that I wanted to assess.
According to that registered nurses review, I was too active during the interaction and did
not agree on every intervention she added. Furthermore, she added that to check my prior
knowledge about the disease, she deliberately added few wrong interventions, and I strongly
opposed those points. This positive feedback made me feel good compared to prior negative
feedbacks. However, I wanted to continue with this positive attitude, and I had nine more days to
recheck the side of my personality.
Further, I started communicating with registered nurses, ward supervisors and my
colleagues to understand my improvement or deterioration of these two aspects of my
personality. I even interacted with guest faculty in my institute, who are strangers to me to

3REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
understand few topics of nursing. This was a strategy to understand the level of involvement in
every conversation.
After recording these interactions for ten days, I notice that I care less about my
colleagues and rarely talk to them beyond work and curriculum. I am less worried to think before
stating any comment and this constitutes my weakness. This action let people make negative
perceptions about me and feedback of my colleagues was an evidence of it. However, the
positive feedback that I have received from peer review states that I am good at interaction. I can
confidently speak in public, which leads to effective conversation, which constitutes my strength.
As per the results of my online test, I am extremely adaptive and have ability to adapt the
other people’s words, actions and use different perspectives. My insightfulness can help people
avoid misunderstandings and constitutes my strength.
From the assessment, I get to know my strengths and weaknesses while having
interpersonal communication. Conversation with registered nurses, workers and guest faculties
points out my ability to start conversation and be completely involved in it. Involvement in
interaction allows the members to demonstrate the topic with enhanced efforts (). While my
weaker communication skill was related to human-to-human gestures and emotions. My
colleagues expected the gestures of care and affection from me that I was lacking. Hence, my
goal would be enhanced by interpersonal skills related to gestures and emotions. For this, I will
start communicating with everyone I meet. Henceforth, my goal would be to understand the
emotional quotient of people. I will interact with my colleagues beyond the professional level
and will let them know their importance in my life. I will further try to enhance my skills to

4REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
express views with appropriate nonverbal cues (Kim & Lee, 2014). I will be indulging myself in
conversation with strangers about work or any other social or ethical issues. After completing the
conversation, I will ask them to review my involvement or any negative feedback they want to
add. This will be goal achievement plan to pursue a proper interpersonal communication skills.
In conclusion, interpersonal communication is important not only in nursing profession
but also in personal life. In this fast pacing world, this is the only aspect that connects us with
people and ensures effective functioning of life. Poor interpersonal communication skills create a
gap in the workplace, leading to the economical and social loss. Hence, having a proper
communication skill makes a person convincing and approachable among people. During my ten
daylong assessment plan, I have recognized about my strengths and weaknesses of
communication skills. I have received both positive and negative feedback. Positive feedback
gave me the confidence to overcome the negative ones, and I set my goals to improve the
communication skills.

5REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
Date
& Time
DESCRIBE
THE INTERACTION
What
did you think
and feel during
it?
What
did you do
well? Did you
achieve your
goals?
What
Could you still
improve on?
Day 1 Interacted with peers to
know the negative aspects
of personality
Depress
ed
I was good at
starting
conversation and
make people
indulge in
conversation
I need to
be emotionally
involved in
conversations
Date & Time DESCRIBE THE
INTERACTION
What did you
think and feel
during it?
What did you
do well? Did
you achieve
your goals?
What Could
you still
improve on?
Day 2 Interacted with registered
nurses to discuss acute
antibiotic-resistant
tuberculosis
satisfied I was good at
conversation,
and I was
completely
involved in it. I
also disagreed
with useless
arguments
I don’t have the
same energy
level throughout
the conversation.
I need to
improve in that

6REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
Date & Time DESCRIBE THE
INTERACTION
What did you
think and feel
during it?
What did you
do well? Did
you achieve
your goals?
What Could
you still
improve on?
Day 3 Interacted with Guest
faculty
anxious Conversation
skills
Think before
speaking
Date & Time DESCRIBE THE
INTERACTION
What did you
think and feel
during it?
What did you
do well? Did
you achieve
your goals?
What Could
you still
improve?
Day 5 Interacted with group of
supervisors
Positive and
confident
Conversation
skills and
positive
connection with
the group
members
Ability to say no
Date & Time DESCRIBE THE
INTERACTION
What did you
think and feel
during it?
What did you
do well? Did
you achieve
your goals?
What Could
you still
improve?
Day 6 Interacted with families of
patients
Anxious and
nervous
Was able to
understand their
needs and
respond to them
Emotionally
handle the
situation

7REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
Date & Time DESCRIBE THE
INTERACTION
What did you
think and feel
during it?
What did you
do well? Did
you achieve
your goals?
What Could
you still
improve on?
Day 8 Interacted with colleagues Hopeful and
honest
Conversation
skills and
involvement in
the discussion
To make them
feel that I care
Date & Time DESCRIBE THE
INTERACTION
What did you
think and feel
during it?
What did you
do well? Did
you achieve
your goals?
What Could
you still
improve on?
Day 7 Interacted with seniors Nervous and
positive
Ability to make
them understand
that I seek
assistance in few
topics
Asking
assistance if
don’t know the
topic
Date & Time DESCRIBE THE
INTERACTION
What did you
think and feel
during it?
What did you
do well? Did
you achieve
your goals?
What Could
you still
improve on?
Day 9 Interacted with patients Confident Conversation
skills and make
them trust the
care given
procedure
Honestly, make
them aware their
situation
Date & Time DESCRIBE THE
INTERACTION
What did you
think and feel
during it?
What did you
do well? Did
you achieve
your goals?
What Could
you still
improve on?
Day 10 Interacted with tutors and
peers to review their
feedback they gave nine
days ago
Positive and
confident
Conversation
skills and
positive
connection with
None

8REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
the group
members,
involvement in
the conversation
Screenshot of online interpersonal communication skill test

9REFLECTION ON INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL
References
Bulman, C., Lathlean, J., & Gobbi, M. (2012). The concept of reflection in nursing: Qualitative
findings on student and teacher perspectives. Nurse education today, 32(5), e8-e13.
Kim, S. H., & Lee, M. A. (2014). Effects of emotional labour and communication competence
on turnover intention in nurses. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
Administration, 20(3), 332-341.
Ralph, N., & Moloney, C. (2015). Safety and quality in clinical communication.
Riley, J. B. (2015). Communication in nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences.