Nursing Report: Interpersonal Communication Skills Reflection

This report is a reflection on the importance of interpersonal communication skills in nursing, highlighting the crucial role they play in effective patient care and the overall functioning of a healthcare setting. The report delves into three key interpersonal skills: active listening, clarity and brevity, and paraphrasing. It analyzes the student's self-assessment of their communication techniques, particularly during interviews, and identifies areas for improvement in each skill. The report emphasizes the significance of active listening, including empathy, avoiding distractions, and understanding both the subtext and context of patient communication. It also stresses the importance of clarity and brevity to convey information efficiently and avoid misinterpretations, and the use of paraphrasing to provide feedback and ensure mutual understanding. The author acknowledges shortcomings in their initial interview approach, particularly regarding the collection of comprehensive information and the development of strong therapeutic relationships. The report concludes with a commitment to improving these skills by adopting specific techniques, such as avoiding assumptions, giving patients time to express themselves, and using paraphrasing to confirm understanding. The author references relevant literature to support their findings and recommendations.

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Nursing: Interpersonal Communication Skills
Institution Name
Name of Student
Name of Instructor
Date

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Introduction
Interpersonal communication is a vital tool in any workplace. Effective interpersonal
communication is important for the proper functioning of an organization. The interpersonal
communication skills help individuals to achieve effective communication which is essential for
the well-being of an organization. Reflection is also important because it allows for self-
assessment in terms of interpersonal communication skills.
Interpersonal Communication Skills
If more than two people are sitting next to each other or even far way but are aware of the
presences of each other and not and not talking then, the assumption is that communication is
taking place. Interpersonal communication skill has been found to be an effective tool that is
used in general communication (Shen et al., 2018). This paper will look at a reflection on
improving and developing therapeutic communication skills focusing on actives listening, clarity
and brevity and also paraphrasing and trying to mention some improvements. This paper will
reflect on types of some interpersonal communication skills, explaining the three most important
types of interpersonal skills. These interpersonal skills include:
1. Active Listening
Active listening is one of the communication skills that everyone has to master. We do
know that listening is the hearing what someone is saying or something going on. And now
active listening contains both hearings and trying to interpret the message. Active listening
allows nurses to have greater attendance, expecting them to give too much concentration and to
have clear and full information about the status of the patient (Lievens, (2018). When I was
carrying my interview I was victorious into my interview I found that I did not collect all the

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information I was aiming at. I was attentive but I could not give the patient time even to express
themselves my interest was only to work with the time frame I was given not realizing I was very
boring to the patient and know strong relationship I was creating.
For one to effectively use active listening skill there should be empathy and sympathy, I should
avoid distraction when listening, should involve both the subtext and context, curiosity should be
involve as asking question will motivate the patient, during interview try to write down the
summery of my session with the patient, before the beginning of interview look for the right
posture. And try to understand patient opinion by repeating. In my next interview I will try to
explore and adopt the this technique as looking it into detail and not trying to assume anything so
that I can get the best result by also avoiding jumping into conclusion and denying patient their
right and omitting important information
..
2. Clarity and Brevity
One of the hottest words in communication is briefing. Clarity and brevity have been found to
be the tools in communication that someone who is always eloquent normally possesses
(Brownlea, 2016). Nurses are advised during the interview to be clear and brave in carrying out
the interview. In my interview, I will ensure that I have a lot of brevity in dealing with patients
because I wanted to prove and a firm how smart I was not realizing that I was omitting important
information to them. Being clear also helps in managing time I was trying not to overcomplicate
the message but only to realize giving some ignorance to the patient.

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According to research nurses uses brevity and clarity because it makes them get clear and good
information it also brings amusement to the patient while saving time (Adams, 2015). For
instance, if they want to utilize the time frame they were given. Empathy and understanding
should be considered for good communication. This also helps in preventing personal judgment
and it enhances communication.
It is said that combination of time, clock and trying to hammer the point can sharpen a
blunt blade and this means information is delivered and also well interpreted. In my interview, I
will not leave anything necessary to help achieve effective communication and to be on the
lookout. Since brevity is a virtue that helps in communication, it helps in compiling the message
within a limited time, which increases chances of understanding.
3. Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is another tool used in communication. According to the research, when nurses talk
to the patient they can be able to use paraphrasing to provide feedback. It is always advisable that
during paraphrasing one should not take judgment and direction that regards self-interest
(Adams, 2015). During my interview I was trying to be smart my aim was only to collect
information that was very useful, not realizing that I was just denying patient opportunity to
express themselves however, I was successful in developing therapeutic relationship. I came to
realize that there were some key things I was not encountering, during paraphrasing. According
to the research when paraphrasing, for my next interview to be successful and bear fruit. I should
focus on patient word, I should use some words that the patient used, I should avoid being

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judgmental, give the patient time. Give understanding to the patient even if the patient says
something not right (Peate, 2017).
According researchers nurses uses paraphrasing to call attention to position they wish to
agree and disagree with and it also expand the depth and breadth of und understanding. In my
next interview I will adopt the use of paraphrasing to patient and try to archive and obtain clear
information that will increase therapeutic relationship.
Conclusion
Indeed the use of communication skills of paraphrasing, active listening and clarity and brevity
has been found to be the effective tools in communication and they need to be improved and
enhanced. When I was conducting the interview, I was only interested in asking a question not
even bothering on the health of the patient (Shen et al., 2015). I am going to improve my
relationship with the patient while trying to adopt the three techniques in knowing and analyzing
the situation of patients, especially for nurses. The use of reflection has made me realize areas of
improvement in collecting patient information.

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Reference
Adams, J. (2015). Patient & Person: Interpersonal Skills in Nursing Stein-Parbury Jane Patient &
Person: Interpersonal Skills in Nursing 331pp £58.99 Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier Australia
9780729541589 0729541584. Nursing Standard, 29(33), pp.30-30. doi: 10.7748/ns.29.33.30.s33
Brownlea, A. (2016). Impact of the doctors' interpersonal skills questionnaire (DISQ) in
Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. Patient Education And Counseling, 34, S49-S50. doi:
10.1016/s0738-3991(98)90118-5
Lievens, F. (2018). Adjusting medical school admission: assessing interpersonal skills using
situational judgement tests. Medical Education, 47(2), pp.182-189. doi: 10.1111/medu.12089
Peate, I. (2017). Communication & interpersonal skills for nurses Shirley Bach Communication
& interpersonal skills for nurses and AlecGrant Learning
Matters£17192pp97818444516231844451623. Nursing Management, 16(10), pp.9-9. doi:
10.7748/nm.16.10.9.s15
Shen, J., Xu, Y., Staples, S. and Bolstad, A. (2015). Using the Interpersonal Skills tool to assess
interpersonal skills of internationally educated nurses. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 11(3),
pp.171-179. 11(3). doi: 10.1111/jjns.12018