Being able to communicate effectively is essential for nurses. We need to be able to be aware of all the communication tools in our tool kits to help us care for our clients.
We need to have not only safer communications, but therapeutic healing encounters as well. The ability to see past behaviors and angry words to determine what the needs of our cients really are, in order to help them reach their goals, that is part of the art of nursing.
In the next few weeks we will be exploring many facets of better communication techniques, including active listening, body language, and the well chosen word. The goal is transforming our interactions with clients, co-workers, and everyone we come in contact with.
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I would be interested in your comments. I would like to know what you think the biggest communication problems are in nursing? What can nurses do to improve communication?
When I was an L & D nurse I took care of a patient from Cambodia. She spoke little English so her husband translated even though his English was limited. She was hooked up to the fetal monitor and the baby's little heart beat was loud in the room. The Dr. came in and told the patient's husband that a C-section would have to be performed. When the husband told his wife this she started to cry and the husband cried too as if their hearts were breaking. What we did not know was that in their country at that time the only surgeries were done if the baby was dead. They thought their baby had died even though the baby's heart beat was making a huge racket. What we failed to communicate was that the sound was their baby's heart and that the surgery was to help the baby be born safely. When I realized (finally) what agony they had been going through I was very ashamed that we had not tried harder to communicate what was going on.
Have you had any experiences where poor communication caused a problem with patients, fellow nurses, or other health care workers?
Nursing Educator
