Communication and Reflection
Watch the video located in assignment four drop box or use this link: Poor Communication
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1RY_72O_LQ
After viewing the video on communication nursing students are required to answer a series of questions that require them to critically analyze the communication being exhibited in the video. The critical analysis of the video should be supported with peer reviewed sources and the information provided should demonstrate an understanding of effective communication and its link to a therapeutic relationship between a nurse and patient.
The assignment will also require the student to reflect on a difficult conversation they may have been involved in and describe how their actions contributed to the outcome of the conversation (either positively or negatively). This must be one single event that the student was personally involved in. This means that the student was an active participant by speaking and/or writing. Example: A conversation where a complaint is being made either by you or to you. Or a text message or email that you sent and was miss understood. A brief description of how the student’s communication contributed to the resolution or escalation of the complaint.
The assignment will be structured in the following way.
Introduction (10% approximately 100 words)
This should outline the general structure and content of the assignment. The specific communication event for question six (6) must be stated in the introduction.
Analysis of the communication video (40% approximately 500 words)
Introduction
Communication process is dynamic and it all depends on the effective execution by the parties involved. From the “Poor Communication” video on the YouTube, there are clear communication barriers between the nurse and her patient. For that reason, their communication process is not effective and clear. There are many instances when people interacting may fail to recognize one another’s needs. This paper will also reflect on my eventful encounter with the police, who had mistaken me for having taken a stolen bicycle, which required a proper explanation to get myself out of trouble. While it takes a lot of effort to become an effective communicator, hence it is fundamental that a person strives to become thorough communicator.
Describe What Barriers to Communication are Displayed by the Nurse
From the video on poor communication, the nurse expresses a clear lack of empathy and understanding towards her patient. The barriers seen here in communication, as expressed by the nurse is the lack of proper listening skills. As a clinical professional, there is a great need for one to have a patient-centered listening approach towards the clients (Berman et al., 2017). For instance, in the video, the nurse is giving her patient little or no chance to express and explain her conditions and the way she is progressing with her therapy. This scenario, therefore, denies the patient to correctly state her current situation properly.
What Essential Elements of Effective Patient-Clinician Communication should the Nurse Have Displayed?
All the professional nurses are required to exhibit outlined principles of communications towards their patients. According to Paget et al (2011, p.3) the clinical professionals should exhibit seven basic principles of effective patient-clinician communication. Among them is mutual respect, supportive environment, the right information and harmonized goals among others. These are the essential elements that the nurse in the video should have displayed during the conversation with her patient, to make the process more suitable for the patient.
How Might this Example of Ineffective Communication Impact on the Patient Recovery?
The instance of ineffective communication as displayed by the nurse could be detrimental to the recovery of the patient (King et al., 2014, p.2). The problems may arise from both sides, in that when the patient does not give the nurse all the required information regarding his or her condition, the nurse may end up giving wrong prescription. Likewise, when the communication from the nurse to the patient is not clear, the patient may follow wrong instructions, which interferes with the recovery process (White, 2016).
How is Effective Communication related to the Registered Nurses Scope of Practice and Ethical Responsibilities?
It is also significant to understand that effective communication plays a central role in the nurses’ careers, as it defines the ethical standards required and acts as the main medium through which the effective diagnosis can be achieved (King & Hoppe, 2013, p.385). The significance of the communication in the nursing profession is invaluable, as in most cases, effective communication establishes good relationships between the nursing professionals and their patients. Therefore, there are several ways through which the patient-nurse communication could be improved (Kennedy et al., 2014).
What Actions and Strategies May Help to Improve This Patient -Nurse Communication?
Training of the nurses on the importance of effective communication could be one of the vital strategies. Also, the nurses should be required to exhibit high levels of communication prowess to be considered for their roles. Refresher courses, especially those aimed at improving the communication skills of the nurses should be prioritized. Also, there should be clear set guidelines at work places that stipulate how nurses should conduct themselves communication wise as a way of improving their keenness in handling the patients, and also eliminating the barriers of communications with the clients.
Reflection on My Communication Experience
Four months ago, I encountered both frightening and interesting experience with the police. As I was strolling down the my local street in the neighborhood with my bicycle, the place stopped me and asked for an explanation to prove the bicycle I had was truly mine. I was surprised, shocked and amused at the same time. How would one explain to prove something that truly belonged to them? I watched the police and stammered. My communication was not clear, as I could only just say, “the bike is mine.”
Ultimately, the police ran out of patience with me, and finally handcuffed me to the police post some few meters from where we were. It was then I realized I was in real problems and I needed proper solutions to my problems. The police were on the hunt of a stolen bicycle, and they claimed that the description matched my bicycle. Through a systematic explanation, I informed the police about all the details of my bicycle including the year in which it was purchased. I supported my evidence with the photos in my phone I had taken one year ago with the same machine. After twenty minutes of explanation and trying to convince them, it finally emerged that the bicycle model in question had similar make with the stolen one but the details did not match. That is how I recognized how effective communication process could be crucial during a crisis moment (Maurer, 2014).
In conclusion, communication plays significant role in various scenarios. From the nursing perspective to the any normal life situations, it is significant part of life. However, most importantly in the nursing profession, nurses need to express enhanced competence in communicating with their patients for effective treatment outcomes (Doherty et al., 2016).
References
Berman, A. et al., 2017. Kozier and Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing. 4th ed. Australia: Pearson.
Doherty, C., Landry, H., B, P. & Reid, H., 2016. Impact of Communication Competency Training on Nursing Students’ Self-advocacy Skills. Nurse Educator, 41(5), pp.252-155.
Kennedy, D.M., Fasolino, J.P. & Gullen, D.J., 2014. Improving the patient experience through provider communication skills building. Patient Experience Journal, 1(1), pp.56-60.
King, B.J. et al., 2014. The Consequences of Poor Communication during Hospital to Skilled Nursing Facility Transitions: A Qualitative Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society , 61(7), pp.1-17.
King, A. & Hoppe, R.B., 2013. ‘‘Best Practice’’ for Patient-Centered Communication: A Narrative Review. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 5(3), pp.385-93.
Maurer, R., 2014. Communicate Effectively in a Crisis. [Online] Available at: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/risk-management/pages/communicate-effectively-crisis.aspx [Accessed 7 June 2018].
Paget, L. et al., 2011. Patient-Clinician Communication: Basic Principles and Expectations. Discussion Paper: National Academy of Sciences, pp.1-7.
White, J., 2016. How communication problems put patients, hospitals in jeopardy. [Online] Available at: http://www.healthcarebusinesstech.com/communication-patient-harm/ [Accessed 7 June 2018].
