This week there have been some great comments about communication and need for instant access. Judi also had a good point about generational communications and expectations. Each generation has certain expectations, methods, and styles in communication. Yet as a group of professionals we are required to communicate effectively. Did you know that the leading cause of medical errors are due to lack of communication (O'Daniel & Rosenstein, 2008)? What are some of the steps we can take as professionals to decrease medical errors from lack of communication? I look forward to your viewpoint by Sunday, February 12, 2012.
Reference
O'Daniel, M., & Rosenstein, A. H. (2008). Professional communication and team collaboration. In R. G. Hughes (Ed.).
Patient safety and quality: An evidence-based handbook for nurses, (pp. 1-14). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Nurse educator,
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest steps we can do is listen. The key to receiving messages effectively is listening. Listening is a combination of hearing what another person says and psychological involvement with the person who is talking (Windle & Warren, n.d.). Listening requires more than hearing words. It requires a desire to understand another human being, an attitude of respect and acceptance, and a willingness to open one's mind to try and see things from another's point of view, as it requires a high level of concentration and energy (Windle & Warren, n.d.).
When we use concentration and energy we are actively listening, so when our patient speaks to us, if we actively listen, we hear what they say, not just the words, but the meanings behind them. Observing body language is another step we can do in the communication process. Both of these steps can help the nurse to deal with patient care and issues as well as communicating with other healthcare members.
Judi
Reference
Windle, R. & Warren, S. (n.d.). Communicaton skills. Retrieved from http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/section4.cfm#top
Judi,
ReplyDeleteThank you so elequolently identifying verbal and non-verbal communication. It is true that we need to listen and look at what someone is telling us. There is an old adage which can be interpted as we hear with out eyes and ears.