University Nursing: Communication Skills Literature Review Assignment

This literature review, conducted by a nursing student, explores the critical role of communication skills in healthcare settings. The review analyzes existing research, focusing on how effective communication techniques influence outcomes for service users. Key findings highlight the importance of communication in fostering therapeutic relationships, promoting teamwork, and improving patient safety. The student utilized electronic databases like Google Scholar and CINAHL, employing specific search terms and Boolean operators to gather relevant research papers. The review examines the impact of communication barriers and the need for supportive communication, particularly for patients with communication difficulties. The findings emphasize the link between structured nursing communication and improved interdisciplinary coordination, which reduces medical errors and enhances job satisfaction among healthcare professionals. The review includes references from 2015 to 2019, focusing on the impact of communication on patient outcomes.

Running head: NURSING
NURSING
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Research Topic: The chosen research topic for the proposed study is: “Communication skills
in practice: the influence of communication skills and techniques on outcomes for service
users in a health or social care service”
Rationale for conducting literature review:
As per Hart (2018), while developing a research proposal it is integral to conduct a
literature review. The rationale for the same can be explained as developing an insight into
what is already published within the evidence base. This directs the researcher to identify the
research gap and plan an appropriate research so as to add more information to the evidence
base.
Search Strategy:
In order to conduct the literature review, the electronic databases of Google Scholar
and CINHAL was intensively evaluated. The electronic databases comprise of a gamut of
information which are relevant and aligned to the research topic. Further, in order to search
relevant research papers, specific key terms were used which were used in combination with
BOOLEAN operator OR/AND. The specific key terms that were used to conduct a search on
the electronic database comprised of terms such as ‘communication in nursing, ‘effective
communication’, ‘service delivery quality’, ‘patient outcome’, ‘therapeutic relationship’
‘healthcare access’, ‘communication barrier’
The search terms were used in combination with BOOLEAN operators to retrieve relevant
results.
Results:
As per Jensen et al. (2014), patients suffering from aphasia might find it extremely
difficult to experience their feeling and communicate in a clear manner with the nursing
professionals. While treating patients with a speech disorder, nurses must make use of
supportive communication so as to ensure active involvement of the participant in the
treatment related decision making process. Further, Gluyas (2014) stated that effective
communication within the nursing profession helps to promote effective team work and
ensures improved coordination between the multidisciplinary team of professionals. This
subsequently helps to acquire positive patient outcome and improves the quality of the care
services provided to the patient. Further, Gausvik et al. (2015) in his research paper suggested
that structured nursing communication helps to improve interdisciplinary coordination and at
the same time promotes increased patient safety. Gausvik et al. (2015) further suggested that
effective communication automatically reduces the probability of a medical error and also
helps to improve job satisfaction level among the care professionals working within an
organization. On the other hand, the research conducted by Norouzinia et al. (2016) focused
on the communication barriers experienced by care professionals while developing a rapport
with the patients. A number of factors such as cultural incompetence and under use of
empathetic verbal and non-verbal gesture were found to be barriers that negatively influenced
the therapeutic relationship between the patient and the nurse.
Current Knowledge:
Current knowledge suggests that effective communication is integral in the
development of a positive therapeutic relationship that directly impacts patient outcome.

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Evaluation:
It can be mentioned that the conducted literature review is valid as the papers that
were considered were in between the time span of 2015 to 2019 and only relevant papers that
were closely aligned to the research question was used.

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References:
Gausvik, C., Lautar, A., Miller, L., Pallerla, H., & Schlaudecker, J. (2015). Structured
nursing communication on interdisciplinary acute care teams improves
perceptions of safety, efficiency, understanding of care plan and teamwork as well
as job satisfaction. Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare, 8, 33.
Gluyas, H. (2015). Effective communication and teamwork promotes patient
safety. Nursing Standard (2014+), 29(49), 50.
Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. Sage.
Jensen, L. R., Løvholt, A. P., Sørensen, I. R., Blüdnikow, A. M., Iversen, H. K.,
Hougaard, A., ... & Forchhammer, H. B. (2015). Implementation of supported
conversation for communication between nursing staff and in-hospital patients
with aphasia. Aphasiology, 29(1), 57-80.
Norouzinia, R., Aghabarari, M., Shiri, M., Karimi, M., & Samami, E. (2016).
Communication barriers perceived by nurses and patients. Global journal of
health science, 8(6), 65.