Building Communication Skills (ANSWERED)

QUESTION

Purpose

The purpose of this discussion is for learners to examine their own growth in communication and collaboration skills.

Course Outcome

This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcome:

CO 3: Demonstrate effective communication and interprofessional collaboration in professional decision-making. (POs 3, 4)

Discussion

Building self-awareness of our verbal and non-verbal communication allows us to grow in our communication skills. What resources do you use to improve your awareness of your communication skills in the professional setting?

Interprofessional collaboration to improve patient outcomes depends on our professional communication skills. What are the most effective communication skills that nurses bring to collaborative interactions? Why are those so important in your own practice?

ANSWER

Communication Skills

Self-awareness is essential for improving communication skills because it allows one to know how the messages they are passing are received. Meditation involves taking a few minutes to focus on the goals, effectiveness of approaches used, speed of delivery, and what needs to be changed. I accompany meditation with writing down my priorities and critical plans to track my progress. This way, I identify my weaknesses and strengths in my communication skills. I also take psychometric tests such as Predictive Index and Myers-Briggs. The tests have forced trade-off questions that help me better understand my character. I also ask my trusted friends to give me their honest opinion about how they perceive my messages when communicating on when having a conversation (Tjan, 2015). Trusted friends can be a natural mirror to help me improve my communication skills.

Effective communication between nurses and nurses and other healthcare providers is essential for efficient healthcare delivery. Verbal communication skills are the most important in most communications settings, including inter-professional collaboration. Nurses should always speak with honesty, accuracy, and clarity. They must consider the other party’s level of health literacy, culture, and age when speaking. Personal feelings such as frustration and stress should not interfere with the tone of the voice. Non-verbal communication skills, such as facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice, are also essential because they can distort the recipient’s perception of the message when inappropriately portrayed. Written communication skills are especially important for nurse-to-nurse communication. The skills help nurses ensure that the patients’ medical records are accurately and clearly created and updated. Presentation skills are also essential for effective communication as they allow nurses to effectively transfer patient care amongst themselves. They are also applicable in other workplace settings, such as giving reports to physicians, participating in interviews, and presenting at conferences (University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, 2020).

References

Tjan, A. K. (2015). 5 ways to become more self-aware. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2015/02/5-ways-to-become-more-self-aware

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. (2020). The importance of effective communication in nursing. https://www.usa.edu/blog/communication-in-nursing/