NR 451 Week 2 Discussion; Communication and Influence-the Power of Evidence

nd Classmates, Describe caring attributes of the culture where you currently practice. Which attributes stand out as having significant influence on patients, nurses, and other healthcare professionals? As a nurse on a medical surgical floor in a small hospital we see a variety of patients daily. Most of them are elderly but we do have a diversity of ages and diagnoses. Our hospital’s mission is to provide whole person care and with that we strive to create a better all-around atmosphere while the patient is healing, this includes; that we are compassionate with the care we deliver. We listen to our patients concerns and address them appropriately, we offer our whole self to them while they are under our care, that includes incorporating their family into the healing process. According to the article “Nurse Characteristics and the Effects on Quality” there are eight qualities of a great nurse, they are: caring, great communication skills, empathy, attention to detail, problem-solving skills, respect, self-awareness and the desire to continue learning[ CITATION Boc19 l 1033 ]. I feel that at my facility the majority of our nursing staff has these qualities. As I arrive to my floor every shift, I make sure that I am 100% there because my patients and my co-workers need me to be the best nurse. As the primary caretaker of my patients it is pertinent that active listening and open communication is vital, this creates a trusting patient-nurse relationship. Listening to your patient and really hearing them makes them feel as they are being heard and their thoughts and emotions are taken seriously and in consideration with their care. As nurses we are the person that is with them most of the time while they are healing, and we want to make sure they can trust us. On our day shift the physicians and the nurses go into each patient’s room at the start of the day and discuss with the patient their care that will be transpiring. They make sure that the family and patient understand and are involved in their care. I work nightshift so I don’t normally come in contact with the physician so I need to be sure that I have a complete understanding of what had transpired during the day, that is why it is important for the day and night shift nurses to have a good repour with each other. Receiving a good shift report about the patient is very important as well, this is where the good communication and attention to detail comes into play.