July 1, 2024

Discover 8 Tips For Effective Communication For Nurses

In healthcare settings, nurses often interact with patients directly. Experienced nurses understand the serious impact of miscommunication in healthcare. Poor communication can lead to the wrong diagnosis, inconsistent treatment, and can even create a threat to a patient’s health.

If you want to make it as a nurse, healthcare professional, or nurse manager, you must be able to communicate well under pressure. It’s a fundamental skill required for any healthcare professional, clinical nurse, or nursing leader.

In this article, we explore 8 essential communication skills that are important for nurses.

What are the essential nursing communication skills?

To excel in your nursing career and effectively connect with patients, you should master the following set of communication skills:

Clarity and concision – When providing feedback or answering questions from a patient, you should know how to formulate your answers in a detailed, yet clear and concise way.
Open-mindedness and respect – An essential communication skill for nurses is the ability to be open minded and respectful towards the patient’s choices, and deliver feedback without judgment, prejudice and stereotypes.
Active listening – Your task as a nurse is not only to deliver feedback, it’s also to receive it. Thus, it is essential to have the ability to actively listen to the patient’s concerns, as they might be important for the course of treatment.
Non-verbal communication – Your body language, gestures, eye contact, and other non-verbal signs are very important for successful communication. Thus, it is crucial to have the ability to control your body when interacting at work.
Cultural awareness – Recognise and respect cultural differences to navigate language barriers and ensure inclusive care.

In addition to verbal communication, strong written communication skills are essential for nursing, enabling effective interaction via email, patient records, and correspondence with colleagues and families.

How to improve your nursing communication skills?

Whether you’re starting out or have experienced in nursing, continually enhancing your communication skills is essential for professional growth. Here are practical tips to help you become a more effective communicator:

1. Practice active listening

Being a good communicator is being a good listener. Active listening can uncover crucial details about a patient’s health or concerns regarding their treatment.

Here’s how you can practice active listening in professional settings:

Pay attention: Directly face the speaker and minimise environmental distractions. However, be mindful of your patient’s cultural norms about eye contact, as, in some cultures, such behaviour can be considered inappropriate.
Use non-verbal cues: Show engagement through smiling, nodding, and brief verbal acknowledgements to indicate understanding.
Provide feedback: Confirm your understanding by paraphrasing the speaker’s points, asking clarifying questions, and summarising the conversation.

These techniques are valuable not only in patient interactions but also in navigating challenges with colleagues. It’s crucial to maintain impartiality to keep conversations productive and respectful.

2. Enhance verbal communication

Excellent verbal communication is crucial. Always strive to speak with clarity, accuracy, and honesty. It’s also important to know your audience and speak appropriately according to the person’s age, culture, and level of health literacy. If you’re feeling stressed or frustrated, be mindful of your tone and ensure it doesn’t affect your interaction with patients. Here are practical steps you can take:

Encourage dialogue: Use open-ended questions such as, “Could you tell me a bit more about that?” to foster patient communication
Use respectful language: Address patients by their first name or preferred name instead of using condescending pet names like “honey” or “sweetie.”
Be clear and simple: Communicate in straightforward sentences without relying on technical jargon.

3. Improve written communication skills

Strong written communication skills are also essential for effective nurse-to-nurse communication. As a nurse, you will be responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date patient medical records to ensure optimal care. It’s crucial to prioritise patient confidentiality. Here are some tips to enhance your written communication:

Make notes immediately following patient care so you do not forget anything
Write legibly and clearly, using simple language
Be sure to note accurate dates and times

4. Utilise non-verbal communication

Non-verbal cues can convey powerful messages beyond words. Employing elements such as facial expressions, eye contact, body language, gestures, posture, and tone of voice is vital for building rapport. Even a simple smile can make a significant impact. Here are ways to enhance your non-verbal communication skills:

Show interest in what the patient is saying by maintaining eye contact and nodding your head
Smile naturally without staring
Sit down and lean forward to show you’re engaged
Use nonthreatening body language that conveys openness

Understanding and responding to nonverbal cues can provide valuable insights into a patient’s feelings and needs, complementing clinical assessments for more comprehensive care.

5. Patient education (Patient teach-back)

Nurses play a crucial role in communicating between the healthcare team and patients. This involves explaining health conditions, diagnoses, treatment plans, and medication protocols to patients and their families. This skill is particularly important for family nurse practitioners who work with patients and families to provide health and education counselling.

Patient teach-back is an effective communication method where healthcare providers ask patients to repeat the information they’ve been given. This approach enhances patient comprehension and promotes adherence to treatment plans. Misunderstandings can lead patients and their families to feel anxious or become defensive. For example, you can say:

We’ve covered a lot of information. Now, I’d like you to repeat it back to me to ensure you remember everything
Can you please repeat the instructions for taking this medicine back to me?
Let’s go over what we just discussed. Can you please explain it to me in your own words?

6. Making personal connections

Understanding the person behind the patient is crucial. Patient-centred relationships are essential for fostering a sense of safety and comfort, which can enhance patient outcomes and trust. Here are some ways to establish meaningful connections:

Take a couple of extra minutes each day to get to know each patient personally
Discover a unique fact about each patient
Show genuine interest in their lives and share relevant stories of your own

7. Building trust

Healthcare professionals must earn patient trust through active listening and taking every concern seriously. Trust develops over time, especially in settings that can be intimidating for patients. Creating a comfortable environment is crucial.

Nurse educators and leaders also play a pivotal role in fostering trust as they mentor the next generation of nurses. To inspire trust, nurse leaders and educators should:

Always tell the truth;
Share information openly;
Be willing to admit mistakes.

8. Cultural awareness

In your daily work, you’ll interact with individuals from diverse social, cultural, and educational backgrounds. Each patient and colleague is unique, requiring sensitivity and awareness. For instance, assess a patient’s English proficiency and adjust your language accordingly, or arrange for a translator if needed.

When caring for transgender and non-binary patients, ensure to use their preferred name and pronoun respectfully. Understanding and respecting cultural nuances enhance communication and build trust.

Interested in a Career in Healthcare?

Discover our HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing (CRICOS Course Code: 114217B) at Queensford College.

This nationally accredited program prepares you for a fulfilling role as an enrolled nurse. With a focus on a lifespan approach, you’ll learn to provide tailored nursing care across different life stages – from children to adults and the elderly, as well as people with a range of acute and chronic health conditions.

Hands-on learning is emphasised through clinical placements in diverse healthcare settings. Here, you’ll apply your skills, gain practical experience, and build confidence as a nurse. It’s a rewarding qualification that equips you to make a meaningful impact in others’ lives.

If nursing is your career path, our course is the ideal starting point.

Enrolments are currently open for 19th August 2024 – reach out to us today before spaces fill up!

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