Communication in Nursing
Communication
1. Is the means to establish a helping-healing relationship. All behavior
communication influences behavior.
2. Communication is essential to the nurse-patient relationship for the
following reasons:
3. Is the vehicle for establishing a therapeutic relationship.
4. It the means by which an individual influences the behavior of
another, which leads to the successful outcome of nursing
intervention.
Basic Elements of the Communication Process
1. Sender – is the person who encodes and delivers the message
2. Messages – is the content of the communication. It may contain
verbal, nonverbal, and symbolic language.
3. Receiver – is the person who receives the decodes the message.
4. Feedback – is the message returned by the receiver. It indicates
whether the meaning of the sender’s message was understood.
Modes of Communication
1. Verbal Communication – use of spoken or written words.
2. Nonverbal Communication – use of gestures, facial expressions,
posture/gait, body movements, physical appearance and body
language
Characteristics of Good Communication
1. Simplicity – includes uses of commonly understood, brevity, and
completeness.
2. Clarity – involves saying what is meant. The nurse should also need
to speak slowly and enunciate words well.
3. Timing and Relevance – requires choice of appropriate time and
consideration of the client’s interest and concerns. Ask one
question at a time and wait for an answer before making another
comment.
4. Adaptability – Involves adjustments on what the nurse says and how
it is said depending on the moods and behavior of the client.
5. Credibility – Means worthiness of belief. To become credible, the
nurse requires adequate knowledge about the topic being
, discussed. The nurse should be able to provide accurate
information, to convey confidence and certainly in what she says.
Communicating With Clients Who Have Special
Needs
1. Clients who cannot speak clearly (aphasia, dysarthria,
muteness)
a. Listen attentively, be patient, and do not interrupt.
b. Ask simple question that require “yes” and “no” answers.
c. Allow time for understanding and response.
d. Use visual cues (e.g., words, pictures, and objects)
e. Allow only one person to speak at a time.
f. Do not shout or speak too loudly.
g. Use communication aid: Pad and felt-tipped pen, magic slate,
pictures denoting basic needs, call bells or alarm.
2. Clients who are cognitively impaired
a. Reduce environmental distractions while conversing.
b. Get client’s attention prior to speaking
c. Use simple sentences and avoid long explanation.
d. Ask one question at a time
e. Allow time for client to respond
f. Be an attentive listener
g. Include family and friends in conversations, especially in subjects
known to client.
3. Client who are unresponsive
a. Call client by name during interactions
b. Communicate both verbally and by touch
c. Speak to client as though he or she could hear
d. Explain all procedures and sensations
e. Provide orientation to person, place, and time
f. Avoid talking about client to others in his or her presence
g. Avoid saying things client should not hear
4. Communicating with hearing impaired client
a. Establish a method of communication (pen/pencil and paper, sign-
language)
b. Pay attention to client’s non-verbal cues
c. Decrease background noise such as television
d. Always face the client when speaking
Communication
1. Is the means to establish a helping-healing relationship. All behavior
communication influences behavior.
2. Communication is essential to the nurse-patient relationship for the
following reasons:
3. Is the vehicle for establishing a therapeutic relationship.
4. It the means by which an individual influences the behavior of
another, which leads to the successful outcome of nursing
intervention.
Basic Elements of the Communication Process
1. Sender – is the person who encodes and delivers the message
2. Messages – is the content of the communication. It may contain
verbal, nonverbal, and symbolic language.
3. Receiver – is the person who receives the decodes the message.
4. Feedback – is the message returned by the receiver. It indicates
whether the meaning of the sender’s message was understood.
Modes of Communication
1. Verbal Communication – use of spoken or written words.
2. Nonverbal Communication – use of gestures, facial expressions,
posture/gait, body movements, physical appearance and body
language
Characteristics of Good Communication
1. Simplicity – includes uses of commonly understood, brevity, and
completeness.
2. Clarity – involves saying what is meant. The nurse should also need
to speak slowly and enunciate words well.
3. Timing and Relevance – requires choice of appropriate time and
consideration of the client’s interest and concerns. Ask one
question at a time and wait for an answer before making another
comment.
4. Adaptability – Involves adjustments on what the nurse says and how
it is said depending on the moods and behavior of the client.
5. Credibility – Means worthiness of belief. To become credible, the
nurse requires adequate knowledge about the topic being
, discussed. The nurse should be able to provide accurate
information, to convey confidence and certainly in what she says.
Communicating With Clients Who Have Special
Needs
1. Clients who cannot speak clearly (aphasia, dysarthria,
muteness)
a. Listen attentively, be patient, and do not interrupt.
b. Ask simple question that require “yes” and “no” answers.
c. Allow time for understanding and response.
d. Use visual cues (e.g., words, pictures, and objects)
e. Allow only one person to speak at a time.
f. Do not shout or speak too loudly.
g. Use communication aid: Pad and felt-tipped pen, magic slate,
pictures denoting basic needs, call bells or alarm.
2. Clients who are cognitively impaired
a. Reduce environmental distractions while conversing.
b. Get client’s attention prior to speaking
c. Use simple sentences and avoid long explanation.
d. Ask one question at a time
e. Allow time for client to respond
f. Be an attentive listener
g. Include family and friends in conversations, especially in subjects
known to client.
3. Client who are unresponsive
a. Call client by name during interactions
b. Communicate both verbally and by touch
c. Speak to client as though he or she could hear
d. Explain all procedures and sensations
e. Provide orientation to person, place, and time
f. Avoid talking about client to others in his or her presence
g. Avoid saying things client should not hear
4. Communicating with hearing impaired client
a. Establish a method of communication (pen/pencil and paper, sign-
language)
b. Pay attention to client’s non-verbal cues
c. Decrease background noise such as television
d. Always face the client when speaking
