Question

Communication skills are essential to excel in any discipline or field. Explain the three interpersonal communication skills of Listening, feedback and questioning, and critically discuss the benefits of applying these skills within nursing field. The essay must develop a persuasive argument as to why these skills are useful in nursing field.

Your essay must use relevant sources from both communication theory and your specific discipline.

Answer 1

ANSWER :

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF :

1.LISTENING :

• "Active listening" means concentrating on what is being said rather than just passively hearing the message of the speaker.
• Active listening involves listening with all senses and giving full attention to speaker.
• Interest can be conveyed to the speaker by using verbal and nonverbal messages.
• Active listening involves giving the other person time to explore their thoughts and feelings.
• SIGNS OF ACTIVE LISTENING : verbal and non verbal . NONVERBAL SIGNS : a) Smile : Smile can be used to show that listener is paying attention to what is being said. b) Eye contact with the speaker. c) Posture: Attentive listner tends to lean slightly forward or sidewise while sitting. d)Mirroring : Mirroring of any facial expression used by the speaker can be a sign of attentive listening. e)Distraction : Active listener will not be distracted. VERBAL SIGNS : a) Positive reinforcement. b) Remembering .c)Questioning d)Reflection e) Clarification f) Summarization.

2.FEEDBACK :

• It is the process in which people exchange information face to face.
• Feedback improves their performance ,efficiency and motivation that assist to achieve their goal.
• Helps to enhance quality of care.
• Helps to learn self correcting mechanisms to get back on track.

3.QUESTIONING :

• Questioning is the key to gain more information and without it interpersonal communication can fail.
• It is the fundamental to successfull communication.
• Questioning helps to maintain control of conversation.
• Questioning allows to express an interest in the other person.
• Helps to clarify a point reducing misunderstanding.
• Helps to explore the personality and difficulties the other person may have .
• Helps to test the knowledge and to encourage further thought.

BENEFITS OF APPLYING INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN NURSING :

• Immediate understanding of patients condition and needs - Nurses are the primary care givers.These care givers quickly assess,evaluate ,and work to understand patients condition.Their ability and effectiveness of communication is critical to provide great care.
• Tracking changes in patient care - Understanding patients need and concerns allows nurses to target their communication and clinical strategies towards specific patients , by doing so they can track patient progress regularly and reduce both physical and emotional distress.
• Creating awareness in the patient - Patients advocacy includes therapeutic relationship and communication between nurse and patient.Nurse act as an informer to the patient decison making .Nurse advocates bridge communication gaps between  the patient,other professions and health care system.
• Identifying specialised needs - Some patients have specialised diets or religious beliefs.Nurses ensure this information is provided to right people so that quality of care is not compramised.
• Understanding the emotional state of patient - The amount of personal communication the patients have with the nurses is important for understanding of persons physical and emotional wellbeing by means of which nurses are able to provide deeper level of care individually.
• Understanding the social determinants of health-Social determinants of health such as poverty ,unemployment,food insecurity and lack of stable housing known to increase rates and severities of chronic conditions and lead to greater morbidity and mortality.Communicating effectively with patients of their social determinants increase patient health and wellness.