Effective - Therapeutic Communication

Effective / Therapeutic Communication

Wanda M. Harris

Chamberlain College of Nursing

February, 2016

NR-351 Transitions in Professional Nursing

Effective/Therapeutic Communication

Principles of effective communication “uses clear, concise, and effective written, electronic, and verbal communication” (Massachusetts Dept. of Higher Education, 2010).  The professional nurse uses oral, visual, auditory, and tactile forms of communication while caring for patients.  It requires assessment of the patient’s willingness and readiness to communicate.  The importance of communication is the essential foundation of nursing practice.  Effective verbal and non-verbal communication in nursing practice will facilitate a mutually satisfying therapeutic relationship.  According to Tracy, M. “A foundation of good communication with patients and their families is essential to developing a therapeutic relationship”. (2014, p.155).  

“A simple definition of communication is:” the passing if information to someone”.   (Webster’s English Dictionary, 2010).  Many have studied communication and have developed their own definitions, one such is: (Cresia, 1996) “ Communication is all the processes by which people influence each other, all communication is behavior and all behavior is communication”.  

The importance of effective communication is the essential foundation of nursing practice.  It is primarily dependent on verbal and non-verbal methods (AJN, 2010).  It includes both speech and behavioral aspects.  Efficient delivery and receiving of the nurse-patient messages initiates well-rounded relationships.  Effective verbal and non-verbal communication will give rise to a mutually satisfying therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.  The effectiveness of communication is dependent upon several factors: age, gender, culture, language, developmental and cognitive level, and willingness.  Effective communication is the key to patients actively participating in their own care (Mass. Dept. of Higher Ed. 2010).  

Verbal communication consists of the spoken word that requires functional physiological and cognitive mechanisms that produce, recognize, and receive speech (Hood, 2014).  Nurses use several strategies in order to communicate effectively; open and closed-ended questions and statements, clarifying, reflecting, paraphrasing, and summarizing (Dwyer, M. 1985).  Nurses need to be careful not to use too much medical jargon with patients, it may confuse or alienate them. The nurse must speak clearly in a tone appropriate to the message that is being conveyed.  According to Faulkner: “  The nurse must show empathy, self-awareness, trust, respect, and give comfort to establish a good relationship” (1998, pp198-203).  Nurses need to convey information to the patient about their physical state, diagnosis, plan of care, treatment plan, and prognosis, while determining what the patient believes about his/her illness, and his/her ability to absorb that information so they are not bombarded with too much at one time.  Information should be given at a rate in which the patient can absorb, and in the language they will understand

(Faulkner, 1998).

Non-verbal communication exerts more influence in communication than verbal.  Ninety percent of all communication is non-verbal (Hood, 2014).  Hunsaker & Alessndra suggested that perception of non-verbal communication involves all the senses.  Some aspects are, physical appearance, posture and gait, facial expression, eye contact, body movement, gestures, empathy, touch, and listening.  Smiling tells a patient you have positive feelings and thoughts about them.  Smiling shows the patient and family you are listening to them and encourages further conversation (Hosley & Molle, 2006).  

The challenging practice of communication requires a degree of self-awareness, the ability to reflect inwardly, and is central to human interaction (Jason, H. 2000).  Effective communication with patients and their families is an essential requirement for patient-centered care (IOM, 2011).  The productive delivery of both methods contribute to the establishment of a mutually satisfying therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.  Patients spend more time communicating with nurses than any other health care professional (Dept. of Health, 2010).  Despite all the technological advances in recent decades, caring, compassionate, healing, nurses remain the best therapeutic tool in medicine (Bodzek,