Effective Communication in Nursing: Promoting Patient Safety

This essay examines the critical role of effective communication in nursing, emphasizing its impact on therapeutic nurse-patient relationships and patient safety. It delves into the concepts of verbal and non-verbal communication skills, highlighting their significance in building rapport and gathering patient information. The essay also explores the principles of person-centered care, advocating for a holistic approach that prioritizes patients' individual needs and preferences. Furthermore, it discusses the importance of effective documentation in maintaining clear records of care, observations, and patient conditions. Through a case study, the essay demonstrates how these principles are applied in practice, illustrating how nurses can utilize communication skills to address patient concerns and promote positive health outcomes. The essay concludes by reinforcing the essentiality of effective communication for all healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers.

Running head: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 1
Effective communication in nursing
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EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 2
Introduction
Communication is the exchange of information between one or more parties. Effective
nurse patient communication is very important since it promotes therapeutic nurse patient
relationship and patient safety. Within the framework of this essay, there will be a discussion on
the concepts of both verbal and non-verbal communication skills, effective documentation and
person centered care using the case study as an example.
Discussion
Verbal communication skills
Verbal communication is defined as the exchange of a message between two or more
parties using speech. Verbal communication is very important between the nurse and the patient.
It is one of the most important aspect since it enables the nurse to acquire important information
about the patient for effective therapeutic relationship. However, both the nurse and the patient
ought to employ different verbal communication skills in order to build the relationship. In a
survey conducted recently, results indicate that the verbal communication skills employed can
determine the overall outcome of the patient’s health and well-being (Salvi, 2015). In the study,
some of the recommended verbal communication skills include being friendly, thinking before
speaking, not talking too much, authenticity and humility and finally speaking with confidence.
In the case study provided, the nurse can employ the above skills in many ways. Since George
explains that he consumes alcohol on a daily basis that affects his health. The nurse should be
very confident when explaining to the patient the consequences of alcoholism. When George is
giving his opinion, the nurse ought to be very humble and listen to well as him. This is because
the response provided is likely to be used in coming up with effective nursing interventions. The

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 3
nurse also ought to be very authentic when advising George. This is because studies indicate that
show off is a big turn off among many patents and this hurts the patient nurse therapeutic
relationship. Nurses are therefore supposed to be very mindful of the verbal communication
skills so as to strengthen the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship.
Non-verbal communication skills
Nonverbal communication is sharing information between two or more parties without
the use of spoken language. In nursing, studies recommend different non-verbal communication
skills for effective communication between the patient and the nurse for effective therapeutic
relationship. The most common non-verbal communication skills include use of gestures, facial
expressions and body positions. In the case of George Pham, the nurse can employ different non-
verbal techniques. Since the patient says that he takes alcohol on a daily basis, the nurse should
express surprise through facial expression (Mastrototaro, 2015). The nurse should appear very
worried. This will make the patient get worried as well with his alcoholism behavior. Once the
patient gets worried, it becomes easier for him to abstain from alcoholism. Furthermore, George
says that he quit smoking but he misses cigarettes. At this point, the nurse should express
happiness on his face to signify that quitting alcoholism is a good step towards well-being. The
nurse can also express happiness when recording normal parameters such as a normal
temperature of 37 degree Celsius. An expression of happiness encourages George to provide
more information. Nurses should ensure that they employ the non-verbal communication always
when interacting with their patients to bolster the therapeutic relationship between the two.
Person centered care

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 4
Person centered concept in nursing involves focusing on the patients personal needs,
wants, desires and objectives then making them central to the care and the entire nursing process.
This includes considering the spiritual needs of the patient otherwise known as holistic needs.
According to different surveys conducted recently, the quality of relationships forged between
the patients, carers and the nurse plays a crucial role in the quality of the patient’s healthcare
experience (Kelly, 2014). The studies recommend that in order for nurses to engage perfectly
with the patients, they have to listen carefully and get to understand their patients as people.
Furthermore, there are some common frameworks that have been proposed to assist nurses
implement person centered care. The first framework is getting to know the patient as an
individual. In the case study provided, the nurse should take time to know George Pham as an
individual. This includes treating him in the desired manner. The other framework is being
responsive. This means that the nurse should reply or answer any concerns by the patient. If for
example in the case study George Pham makes an inquiry about something, the nurse should
respond immediately. Other frameworks include providing meaningful care and then respecting
values, preferences and needs of the patients (Gopee, 2012). In the case of George Pham, the fact
that he is Buddhist should not make the nurse to discriminate him. The nurse should just provide
good care regardless of the religion. Since the relationships forged between nurses, patients and
carers determines the quality of healthcare experiences, there should be efforts from both the
parties to ensure they communicate effectively to foster the relationship.
Effective documentation.
Documentation is the process of annotating texts or information. In nursing,
documentation describes the process of writing down the nursing processes, observations, care,
clients’ conditions and the type of care accorded to the patient. Effective documentation

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN NURSING 5
according to studies, is critical in delivering healthcare. In order to accomplish effective
documentation, there must be communication between the nurse, patient and carers (Byrne,
2014). The nurse should therefore employ good communication skills during documentation and
this will generally bolster the therapeutic patient nurse relationship and patient safety.
Conclusion
Effective nurse-patient communication promotes therapeutic nurse patient relationships
and patient safety. It is not only the duty of the nurse to provide a conducive environment for
communication but the patient and care givers as well. Both the nurses, patients and care givers
therefore need to be equipped with concepts of verbal communication skills, on-verbal
communication skills, and person centered care and finally effective communication.

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