Patient Safety Research Paper

Communication Issues and the Effects on Patient Safety
There are several factors that are important to health care safety, one of the most critical factors being good communication. When someone thinks about the requirements needed to be a nurse, he or she may think of the need for scientific knowledge. However, to be a nurse one has to have more than just scientific knowledge. Nurses need to possess other skills, one of those being the ability to communicate effectively. Communication is like breathing, we do it so much, many times without thinking, that it seems natural and effortless. However, communication is a skill that some execute well and others poorly. A nurse not only has to have good communication with his or her patients,
When it comes to patient safety good communication is needed in the relationships between the doctor and nurse, nurse and nurse, as well as between the patient and nurse. However, one of the most important relationships is the relationship between nurse and patient. It seems to go without saying that perhaps the most important person in this discussion is the patient, and his or her health care experience. Without the patient there is no need for health care settings, professionals or treatments. One way poor communication can be expressed or seen in the nurse and patient relationship occurs when the nurse fails to ask open ended questions during her assessment with the patient. When this happens the nurse creates an environment where the patient does not feel comfortable opening up, sharing, or asking questions regarding his or her current health situation. This leads to inaccurate and incomplete information which puts the patient’s safety at risk. Not only does the nurse have to demonstrate good communication with the patient but must also be able to do the same with the patient’s family. For example, the nurse should consider not only language barriers but also the level at which the patient’s family can understand the medical information. When good communication exists between the nurse, patient, and
Electronic charting is a system/ software that is used in a health care setting to chart patient information. This system/ software replaces paper charting and cuts down on the number of errors due to not being able to read others writing. In addition, this system flags information that is questionable, such as when entering an abnormal value. For example, if a patient was to have a high/low blood pressure when charting the abnormal value, the system will highlight it causing the nurse to address this issue. This form of communication increases patient safety. Another solution to help address communication issues is the use of bedside rounds, also known as intentional rounding. This practice involves the nurse and doctor going over patient information and/ or plans with the patient and any family members present at his or her bedside. When all the stakeholders involved are present at the same time, hearing the same information, with the ability to ask questions, patient satisfaction and safety increases. A third solution to improving communication in a health care setting requires nurses to receive more education and training in communication skills. This solution improves patient safety because it will ensure that nurses know how to use good communication skills with their patients, doing so will result in an increase in patient safety and well- being