Communication In Nursing

According to Douglass, “Leadership and management are achieved through effective communication.” (1992, p. 151). Communication is key in the field of nursing, without proper delivery, reception, and interpretation of the message, patient’s safety is at risk. According to Gardezi et al. (2009) “inadequate communication is a primary cause of medical errors” (p. 1391). Though nursing schools encourage and support the importance of good communication, there isn’t a formal class or training specifically addressing this topic. As a result, each nurse must seek out this knowledge and independently master these proficiencies. Good communication skills are not only essential while offering the best quality of care to the patient, but are crucial in
According to Chan and Wood (2010) collaborative practice is intended to promote active participation of each discipline in the care of the patient by “providing mechanism for continuous communication among caregivers, optimizes staff participation in clinical decision making within and across disciplines and fosters respect for the disciplinary contribution of all professionals.” (p. 22). Possible participants of collaborative care may include the following disciplines: primary medical provider, medical specialists, physical therapist, psychiatrics, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers,
22). According to McCaffrey et al. (2011) review of literature, collaborative approach is set to create a “positive work environment, decreases costs, improves job satisfaction among nurses, and improves patient care” (p. 294). However, this approach is not without complications. Lancaster, Kolakowsky-Hayner, Kovacich, and Greer-Williams (2015) review of the literature found that various perspectives into the decision-making process and variations of opinions might affect understanding of the clinical situation during the care of the patient. Moreover, Lancaster et al. (2015) found that efficient communication and self-motivated collaboration, improved patient outcomes, while poor communication and collaboration were associated with negative consequences such as medical mistakes (p. 276). Thus, it is essential for everyone involved to possess efficient communication skills. Because nurses are at the forefront providing direct care to the patient, they are responsible for collaborating with other members of the interdisciplinary team to assure all needs are met. Accordingly, it is especially imperative for nurses to develop effective communication