Reflection on My Communication Abilities

Reflection on My Communication Abilities 1
REFLECTION ON MY COMMUNICATION ABILITIES
Course
Professor’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Date

Reflection on My Communication Abilities 2
Communication forms an important component in the nursing profession. Nursing
profession entails interaction with patients, co-workers, top leaders within the organization, and
other members of community. Nurses working in practical sessions spend time communication
verbally and non-verbally. In today’s multicultural society, the role of communication has shifted
from exchange and sharing of information to building and nurturing relationships. Throughout
my studies, I have interacted with colleagues and other people who I think have played a
significant role in shaping and nurturing my communication abilities. While I can say that I have
developed both verbal and non-verbal communication competencies suitable to this career, I
think that a reflection on my communication abilities and skills can help me identify some of my
strengths and weaknesses and help me develop a plan on how I can improve on my weak areas.
Communication skills are a continuous process and I believe that I still have opportunity to excel
and improve in areas that I have not performed well in the past.
Key Terms
Verbal Communication
This communication occurs mainly through the word of mouth. Gault et al. (2016) define verbal
communication as spoken communication. I chose to reflect on my verbal communication skills
because my nursing practice will mainly involve use of words to communicate and exchange
information with co-workers and patients.
Non-verbal communication
Non-verbal communication does not involve sound. The speaker can use signs, written texts, or
symbols to communicate. Facial expressions that involve emotions also fall into this category
(Bora & Kate, 2018). I chose to reflect on my non-verbal communication skills because I want to
identify the areas of weakness and determine how I can improve.

Reflection on My Communication Abilities 3
Active listening
Pay attention by eliminating all distractions from mind and thoughts so that one understands
what is being said.
Paralinguistics
Tone, speed, and volume of speech. Doyle (2019) explains that paralinguistics which
accompany speech often carry meaning. I want to understand how these affect and shape my
relationships with others.
Body language
It includes body posture when speaking or listening to what is being said. Body language can tell
the listener whether you are interested in the conversation or not.
Empathy and compassion
Communication in nursing requires expression of concern and care both for the patient and the
families. Professional communication entails concern and care for the patient.
Channels of communication
Communication does not occur in a vacuum. A channel is a medium in which information takes
place. It can be a radio network or a telephone network (Bora & Kate, 2018).
Interpersonal communication
It is an exchange of information between two people. In this digital era, interpersonal
communication often occurs over mobile devices (Shafakhah, Zarshenas, Sharif, & Sabet
Sarvestani, 2015). In nursing, interpersonal communication takes place when the caregiver is
communicating with the patients or the family of the patient
Team communication

Reflection on My Communication Abilities 4
Nursing profession entails working as a team. Each nurse requires professional skills and
communication skills for collaboration and team working. Gault et al. (2016) defines team
communication as the type of communication that occurs in a group setting. Since my profession
requires team work for improved service delivery.
Reflection on my Communication and Professional Skills
Communication entails passing information from one person to another, but it cannot be
complete without feedback. I think that I have excelled in this area, especially when
communicating with colleagues and friends. I engage in two types of communication. I use
verbal communication when I am talking to colleagues or friends, even though there are
moments when I use non-verbal cues such as nodding and using facial expression to indicate
agreement with the speaker. Ghiyasvandian, Zakerimoghadam, and Peyravi (2014) explain that
good communicators are also good listeners. However, in this era of technology, there are many
distractions that interfere with good communication. I think that my phone is the first distractor
whenever I am engaging in active communication. Active communication requires that one
closes all distractions and focuses on what the speaker is saying. I however, find it hard focusing
on what other people are saying when my phone is on. I think that I have a lot of work to do in
addressing my limitations in this area.
Communication can be verbal or non-verbal. When I am using verbal communication, I
make sure that my listeners are getting each of the point I am passing across. Tara and O’Hara
(2015) explain that the basic purpose of communication is to motivate and influence others. In
the nursing profession, one will be required to communicate with the top managers and fellow
nurses. Communicating with patients and clients to influence their decisions and perceptions
towards nursing care and practices is also an essential component of communication. While I