Health Assessment and Communication

Running head: PATIENT COMMUNICATION 1

PATIENT COMMUNICATION 2

Patient Communication

Samantha M. Tallarine

Capella University

BSN-FP4002

Assessment, Communication, and Collaboration

May, 2019

Patient-Nurse Communication

Within healthcare facilities, nurses are found in nearly all the locations. Nurses are the ones on the front line in the care of the patient, hence making the communication between the nurse and the patient very important for a positive experience. The aim of communication among the nurse and patients is to create an environment that is warm, positive and an overall good experience for the patient and their family. Another aim is to create a patient engagement that has meaningful experience with the patient, while delivering the necessary education to them. In this report, we are going discuss the type of communication that takes place between the nurse and the patient or client, factors that influence the positive and negative experience during the process of communication, how the patient or client experience impacts the healthcare outcomes, and the strategies to be considered for different patients demographics.

Types of Communication between Nurses and Clients or Patients

Communication is a very important aspect in the components of the healthcare. A regular communication needs to be established between the patients and the nurses. In order to achieve these, the following types of communication are used. First is the verbal communication which is used by the nurse to communicate and inform the patient what they are expected to know (Dodge, 2018). The verbal communication is well utilized by the patient to describe to the nurse how they are feeling, together with the questions and the concerns that they have. The second type of communication is the non-verbal communication where all the communication comes from the hands and eyes among other body parts. For example, eye contact with the patient and being in close contact with them is a way of showing the patient that you care non-verbally.

The third communication type is the formal communication which is mainly used by the nurses. This is a type of communication that does not give room for feedback and deviations, as it is used to explain the policies of the hospital to the patients and the families of the patients. Fourth we have the informal communication which enables the patient and nurses to interact. This enables them to share their interests and the daily activities, which encourage the patients together with their families.

Fifth is the technology aided communication that is used between the nurses and the patients having difficulties in hearing and speaking. In example of this, they may have patients who have suffered from a stroke, and may not be able to express themselves; some healthcare facilities have technology that allows them to type their concerns in the computer which speaks it out loud and the respondent either types backs for them to read or answers them verbally, depending on their needs. There are also translator services available for patients who do not speak the native language, which allows nurses to communicate effectively as well as easing patients anxiety.

Factors that Influence Positive and Negative Experiences During the Communication Process

Communication process is influenced by a lot of things, both internal and the external factors, as it is the key factor in the daily living as the information understanding is very important (Clark & Paraska, 2014). Among the factors that influence the positive and the negative experience during the process of communication includes eye contact. Eye contact enables one to know that they are being listened to, and their opinions and concerns are being heard, hence positive experience. When one does not maintain the eye contact, a negative experience is brought forth as there is an assumption of boredom or the lack of interest. This is true for most patients, but there are also some cultures that feel the opposite way, such as patients part of the Asian culture. In this culture it is not effective to maintain eye contact. Cultural heritage is another factor that influences the positive and the negative experience during the process of communication. Different cultures talk, and behave differently during communication.

Experience level of the nurse is also another factor that can play into effective or non-effective communication. An experienced nurse will know how to use the gestures, body language, and appropriate facial expressions when communicating to the patients (Jamshidi et sl., 2016). Lack of the previous experience has the ability to create a negative experience in the communication process, as there is a possibility for misunderstandings from one point to another, as well as lack of confidence in the nurse. For example, when the patient and the nurse lack experience in the use of gestures and they want to convey something that they are able to communicate, a negative communication process can be experienced.

Lastly, we have the factor of language barrier, which is among the major factors. Nurses will most definitely come across patients who speak another language during the course of their career. These encounters have the opportunity to be very challenging as it will be hard to pass the information needed. This disadvantages both the nurse and the patient, as they will not be able to communicate effectively, hence causing a negative experience during the communication process (Norouzinia et al., 2016). As discussed earlier, healthcare facilities have used evidence-based practice to place translation services within their facility to ensure that no patient goes unheard, regardless of what language they speak.

The outcomes of the healthcare are highly influenced by the experience of patient. This is because the satisfaction of the patient highly portrays the quality of the healthcare. The satisfaction determines the patient retention, and outcome of their stay in the facility. On the other hand, when the patient is not satisfied, it means that the healthcare has a higher potential for poor outcomes with the low quality healthcare activities.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Improving Communication Between Patients and Nurses

To improve the communication between the patients and the nurses, the following evidence based practices are essential. First, is listening carefully to the patient. This enables the understanding of the patients’ problems in full details. Listening also entails direct eye contact, which helps to make the person talking feel that they are being heard. In children especially, this has the potential to enhance the conversation, and also gives an opportunity to maybe see something that the patient isn’t necessarily saying verbally. Another strategy is through treating the patient with courtesy and respect, which makes them feel valued, hence communicating all the problems without fear.

As stated earlier, another evidence-based strategy is implementing translation services, whether it be through a live in person translator, or through something called a language line. This ensures that patients are able to describe their problems, voice their concerns, and helps them to remain their sense of autonomy throughout their treatment. The last strategy is through the explanation of things in a way that one can understand (Riley, 2015). This is enhanced through all the communication modes in the verbal and the non-verbal communication. The non-verbal communication will be very effective in individuals who are having communication problems whether it be from a medical issue, language barrier, or other issues the patient is experiencing. This enhances communication, as every person will be able to communicate to one another with understanding.

References

Berkowitz, B. (January 31, 2016) "The Patient Experience and Patient Satisfaction: Measurement of a Complex Dynamic" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 21, No. 1, Manuscript 1.

Clark, C. C., & Paraska, K. K. (2014).  Health promotion for nurses: A practical guide. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett. 

Dodge, A. (2018, December 28). Types of Communication in the Care Setting. . Retrieved from https://careertrend.com/info-7813454-types-communication-care-setting.html

Essays, UK. (November 2018). Factors that Influence Communication. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-language/communication-in-health-and-social-care-english-language-essay.php?vref=1

Jamshidi, N., Molazem, Z., Sharif, F., Torabizadeh, C., & Najafi Kalyani, M. (2016). The challenges of nursing students in the clinical learning environment: A qualitative study. The Scientific World Journal, 2016.

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.

Riley, J. B. (2015). Communication in nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences.