HEALTH ROLE COMMUNICATIONS

Health Role Communications

Health Role Communications

Introduction

The aim of this assignment is to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and the importance of communication within nursing by relating it to an example from clinical practice. The clinical practice example is based in a healthcare setting on a hospital ward . With reference to The Code of Professional Conduct (NMC, 2008, pp 11-78), confidentiality will be observed throughout, therefore the patient's details have been changed to Mr Jones. The example will demonstrate the achievement of two clinical competencies from the clinical practice assessment in the domain of care delivery. Within the essay, communication will be broadly explored followed by communication that directly relates to the interaction in the example, such as; spoken language, eye-contact, personal appearance, proximity and a therapeutic relationship. Subsequently, barriers of visual neglect, spatial awareness, time available and the students experience in practice will be discussed, concluding with an overview.

Discussion As a concept communication is difficult to define. Communication is not only speaking it involves the whole person and their body actions. Nurses build their confidence and communication skills throughout their career, they can move from novice to expert communicators demonstrating it is a lifelong learning process for a Nurse. It is apparent from literature that communication involves the shared process in which messages are sent and received between two or more people which are made up of a sender, a receiver, and a message within a particular context. Chant et al (2002, pp.12-21) identify this as the process of communication, in terms of the interpersonal transmission of information.

The sender determines what messages they want to transmit by encoding them into verbal or nonverbal symbols that the receiver can understand through the channels of communication. Receivers of the message decode verbal and nonverbal transmissions to interpret its meaning to make sense of the message (Arnold, 2003a, pp 1-25). Chant et al (2002, pp.12-21) verify the process and channel of communication form the basis of 'communication skills'. Newman (2003, p.81) further suggests 'feelings about the sender, as well as about the content of the message influence how the message is received and interpreted.

Verbal communication is a mode of communication that uses both written and spoken words. Another mode of communication is non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication involves other forms of communication such as gestures, facial expressions, and touch. Most people who use verbal communication use various forms of non-verbal communication simultaneously. The nurse in the example above used non-verbal communication, when he crouched down to the Patient's level and lightly touched his shoulder (Brennan, B. 1999, pp 121-18).

Effective communication methods

Essential nature between patients and nurses is that of mutual understanding. It is clear that to function effectively in the therapeutic communication, we need to be informed and skilled practitioners, but not only that, active listening, empathy, understanding is necessary when we there to help our patients. They become calmer and more appreciated after having someone listen to them and express their feelings. Nurse needs to have the ability to express verbally ...