Nursing Communication: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

One of the major skills required in nursing is good communication. When I was accepted into the nursing program I quickly realized the importance and the effects of great communication skills. If I even considered surviving the first week, I had to begin communicating with my future classmates and start making some friends for the struggle ahead. Within the first month, clinical's had snuck up on us and next thing you knew we were at the hospital. The first thing I noticed about the nurses I encountered was their level of communication. I began to think how important the information was in regards to giving report. If you think about it, one misspelled word or one omitted fact could cost the life of a patient. However, as the days passed, I began to focus more on the communication between nurse and patient, in which I frequently found myself consumed by their discussion. It was then that I realized that failure to communicate passionately and wholeheartedly with a patient can destroy the nurse/patient relationship. The nurse/patient relationship is built on a great level of trust as you care for the individual during their most vulnerable moments. In order to maintain this relationship, I have concluded what the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of communication among nurses are.

1. The Good
It is important to always be prepared and know what you are going to say when entering the patient's room. If you are prepared, you are more likely to communicate better and answer any of the patients questions without hesitation. It is also important to use words that the patient will be able to understand. Understanding can be recognized through verbal and nonverbal cues that nurses should also be able to pick up on.
2. The Bad
Many nurses do not take the time needed to interact and get to the know their patient. This may be due to a hectic schedule or simply because of a lack of privacy. For some nurses, they lack communication skills making it difficult to relay pertinent information to the patient. When patients are not receiving adequate time and information from their nurses, they may begin to complain. If a nurse is lacking in communication skills, this only worsens the situation because the nurse may feel uncomfortable and lacking in overall control of the situation.
3. The Ugly
The inability to communicate effectively can cause major misunderstanding between the nurse and patient. When this happens, the patients safety is at risk. When communication becomes fuzzy it is more likely that the nurse will make medication errors and possibly create an incorrect nursing diagnosis. The patient thought they were in good hands; however, it is quite opposite.