COMMUNICATION

Communication The sending and receiving of a message.

Aspects of Communication (i) Sender - the one who conveys the message to another person. Message - the thought, idea, or emotion conveyed. Channel - how the message is sent.

Aspects of Communication (ii) Receiver - physiological/ psychological components. Feedback - the receiver’s response to the sender. Influences - Culture, education, emotions and other factors involved.

Methods of Communication Verbal - Speaking, Listening, Writing, Reading. Nonverbal - Gestures, Facial Expressions, Posture and Gait, Tone of Voice, Touch, Eye Contact, Body Position, Physical Appearance.

Influences on Communication Age Education Emotions Culture Language Attention Surroundings

Congruency of Messages Verbal and nonverbal communication must be congruent, or in agreement.

Listening and Observing Listening and observing are two of the most valuable skills a nurse can have. These two skills are used to gather the subjective and objective data for the nursing assessment.

Active Listening The process of hearing spoken words and noting nonverbal behavior. Active listening takes energy and concentration.

Therapeutic Communication Sometimes called effective communication, it is purposeful and goal-oriented, creating a beneficial outcome for the client.

Goals of Therapeutic Communication To obtain or provide information To develop trust To show caring To explore feelings

Enhancing Communication Self-Disclosure. Caring. Genuineness. Warmth. Active Listening. Empathy (the capacity to understand another’s feelings). Acceptance and respect.

Communication Techniques Clarifying/validating. Asking open questions. Using indirect statements. Reflecting. Paraphrasing. Summarizing. Focusing. Silence.

Barriers Communication Some barriers include: Closed questions. False reassurance. Judgmental responses. Defensive reflex. Agreeing/Disagreeing or Approving/ Disapproving. Giving advice. Requesting an explanation. Changing the subject.

Nurse-Client Communication Almost every nurse-client interaction should involve therapeutic communication. Nurse-client communication is influenced by both the nurse and the client.

Three Phases of Nurse-Client Communication Introduction: Fairly short; expectations clarified; mutual goals set Working: Major portion of the interaction; used to accomplish goals outlined in introduction; feedback from client essential. Termination: Nurse asks if client has questions; summarizing the topic is another way to indicate closure.

Determinant Factors in Communication A nurse’s communication is affected by: Past Experience State of Health Home Situation Workload Staff Relations Self-Awareness

Determinant Factors in Communication A client’s communication is affected by: Social Factors Religion Family Situation Level of Consciousness Stage of Illness Visual, Hearing and Speech Ability Language Proficiency