The Role of Communication in the Daily Nursing Practice - Case Study Example

The Role of Communication in Scenario Assessment, Mrs. Gulcin Ozdemir Communication is significant in everyday life. In many cases, this concept is simply overlooked. However, the capability for individuals to communicate efficiently is vital to transfer ones thoughts to other people. The significance of words or speech whether written or verbal is a communication media to express directions and offer synchronization. It is true that, without communication, persons can not be able to convey ideas, thoughts or feelings. In nursing care, communication is very essential as it allows nurses to provide physical care, emotional support and exchange of information with their patients (Potter and Perry, 2009). Effective communication requires an individual to have effective communication skills as this prevents misunderstandings especially in nursing care and promotes strong relationships. The essay will focus on a case study concerning Gulcin, a window who has Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and urinary incontinence. She does not communicate regarding the condition of urinary incontinence to her general practitioner as she feels embarrassed and awkward about such personal and private matters. In addition, Gulcin does not speak much English. This essay will focus on the contextual factors which influence communication relating them to our case study, and the interventions which the nurse could utilize to facilitate communication. Successful communication is comprised of three major components, the sender, receiver and the message. These three components have to be coordinated in order to ensure effective communication process takes place. In the nursing profession, there is a great deal of information that could be sent to others over a short period. To attain effective message delivery, there are certain contextual factors that have to be considered in order to ensure the message is well interpreted. As White (2003) points out, effective care can only be provided if there is effective communication between the nurses and the patients. However, communication is a dynamic process that is influenced by cultural, social, economical, technological, legal and ethical factors (Hagerty and Patusky, 2003). However, this essay will mainly focus on the contextual factors affecting the communication process. One of the contextual factors affecting effective communication between the patients and the nurses is the language barrier. It is noted that sometimes the nurses apply jargons that may provide difficulties to the patients. However, there are also instances where the patients may find it difficult to explain their problems to the nurse because of the language barrier. In such instance, the patient may resort in finding an interpreter who may not at times, be adequate in explaining the status of the patient to the doctor effectively (Madeline, 2008). Looking at Gulcin, for example, she had a language problem and could not speak much of the English language. This could have been one of the challenges Gulcin faced as she could not establish a close relationship with her general practitioner. Another contextual factor is the length of time the patient and the nurse have known each other. Various studies document that long-term relationships between nurses and the patients help in establishing some form of intimacy, thus providing avenues whereby patients could easily communicate their issues with their nurses (Hagerty and Patusky, 2003). However, this is not always the case, since some patients have remained adamant concerning revealing their health status to the doctors, regardless of how long they have known each other (Annette, 2010). Considering the case of Gulcin for instance, she has known her general practitioner fro the last six years, a time that can be considered enough to establish intimate relationship with the nurse. However, Gulcin still feels awkward and embarrassed revealing such a personal and private matter as she calls it to her general practitioner. The other contextual factor affecting the effective communication between the nurses and the patients, regards the content or the topic of the matter to be discussed. Looking at it from the nurse perspective, nurses reveal that certain matters are perceived to be challenging to be openly discussed with the patients, for instance, matters to do with untreatable medical conditions or death related issues. At times the nurse’s negative emotions, such as sadness, hopelessness and helplessness make communication challenging (Lisa, et al, 2006). On the other hand, patients may find it difficult to discuss private matters with their nurses, for instance, Gulcin could not reveal to her doctor the type of disease she was suffering from as she considered it private and personal. Another contextual factor regards the extent to which the nurse and the patient know each other. The first encounter may result in stereotypes since both the patient and the nurse may evaluate each other based on very little information (Lotzkar, & Bottorff, 2001). However, with continued visits, the relationship grows and such stereotypes may be phased out. The instead acquire insights into the expectations of each other which then transforms the nature of their communication. Such relationships may grow to the extent where the patients become more open to the nurse concerning their personal matters that could be incorporated in the provision of medical care (Lotzkar, & Bottorff 2001). Gulcin has known her general practitioner for six years but they have not been able to establish an intimate relationship. That is the reason why she cannot reveal her problems to her doctor. For instance, it is recommended that people with such a condition Gulcin is suffering from undertake lighter exercise just to prevent the body from accumulating more weight and in order to keep the body fit. However, Gulcin is unable to reveal to the doctor that she has difficulties in doing exercises and she has even gained more weight, something that could make her health situation deteriorate. In order to facilitate communication, the nurse can use various interventions which will ensure effective communication with his patient. Studies reveal that, effective care can only be afforded only when nurses have the ability to communicate effectively with their patients (Oulton, 1998). Nurse patient relationships also improve the quality of care provided (Granados, 2009. In order to achieve this, nurses should employ patient centered communication styles and use effective methods to convey information to their patients. In our case, the nurse will employ various interventions/methods which will ensure effective communication between him and his patient. Some of these interventions will encompass non-verbal or written communication such as brochures, and picture cards, while verbal communication will include medical interpreters. Verbal communication involves face to face communication. The nurse will employ medical interpreters to help him convey information to his patient¸ Gulcin. The case study reveals that, the patient does not speak much English. She only knows enough to help her go shopping. In this case, it is very difficult for her and the nurse to understand each other, and as a result, an interpreter who understands her language will act as a third party in the patient nurse interaction. This will prevent misunderstandings which come up as a result of poor word choices; and failure for the patient to express her feelings entirely (Fakhr-Movahedi et al, 2011). The case of Gulcin portrays there is a language barrier that is a major cause of confusion when individuals attempt to communicate verbally. The nurse can also employ written communication such as the use of brochures, picture cards, pictures, and diagrams. This from of intervention is very useful in our case as it will assist in breaking the communication gap between the nurse and his patient. Instead of communicating verbally or face to face, the nurse can offer brochures to the patient with detailed information explaining the medication, diagnosis or disease management process she is supposed to go through. Written forms of communication are known to be the most efficient method of conveying information as it allows individuals to express their ideas clearly. In addition, it is an accurate, obvious and comprehensive method and ensures little risk of message alteration. This from of communication allows good understanding and where individuals cannot be able to express themselves verbally, such information can be done in writing (Fakhr-Movahedi et al, 2011). In our case, the use of this form of communication will allow the nurse and his patient to understand each other better. Non-verbal communication has been proven to be an efficient method in nursing care. For instance, nurses who are trained in American schools are taught to use such methods as touch as therapeutic means of communication with their patients (Understanding Transcultural Nursing, 2005). However this method has faced various challenges due to cultural beliefs. Some cultures do not allow male practitioners to touch certain female parts. However, in our case, the nurse can use the touch method as a way of communication and explain to Gulcin clearly the reason for touching her to avoid misinterpreting the use of touch in her care (Franco et al, 2009). Maintaining a direct eye contact is also a significant means of intervention in our case. When health practitioners maintain a direct eye contact to their patients, they are guaranteed to obtain accurate information as it allows for effective communication. In conclusion, Nurse patient communication is essential for the daily nursing practice. It is the foundation for the establishment of the nurse-patient relationships. Effective nursing care is generally determined by good communication. However, most of the times it is difficult to attain effective communication as a result of various social, ethical, legal, technological, and economic factors. Some of the contextual factors affecting communication include the nature or topic of the matter to be discussed, extent of the relationship between the patient and the nurses and the language barriers. Some of the interventions that could be applied to facilitate effective communication include the use of interpreters in case of language barriers, use of written communication aids to provide deeper understanding and the establishment of educational programs for the nurses on effective communication skills. Indeed, effective communication should be promoted in order to ensure effective nursing care delivery. References Annette, M. 2010. Cultural Safety: Does the Theory Work in Practice for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups? Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 6-16. Fakhr-Movahedi, A., Salsali M., Negharandeh, R., and Rahnavard Z. 2011. A qualitative content analysis of nurse–patient communication in Iranian nursing. International Nursing Review, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 171–180. DOI: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2010.00861.x Franco, AC., Bilkis, V., Amy, N., and Ariane, V. 2009. Ethical Considerations in Cross-Linguistic Nursing, Nursing Ethics, vol. 16, no. 6. Granados, GG. 2009. The nurse–patient relationship as a caring relationship. Nursing Science Quarterly, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 126–127. Hagerty, B, & Patusky, K, 2003, Reconceptualizing the nurse patient relationship. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 145–150. Lisa, K., Sheldon, R., and Barrett, L. 2006. Difficult Communication in Nursing, Journal of Nursing Scholarship, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 141-147. Lotzkar, M., and Bottorff, L. 2001. An observational study of the development of a nurse patient relationship. Clinical Nursing Research, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 275–294. Madeline, M. 2008. Transcultural Nursing: Its Importance in Nursing Practice, Journal of Cultural Diversity, vol. 15, no. 1. Oulton, J. 1998. Communicating shows we care. 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