How to Enhance Communication Skills Between Nurses

Communication between nurses is essential for the proper functioning of a nursing unit. It is important that nurses can talk to each other to ask questions about patients, share opinions or get help. Since it is so important to nurses that they communicate, it only makes sense that nurses seek ways to enhance their ability to communicate with each other. There are many ways to do this. Communication skills are some of the easiest things that nurses can work on to improve their professional lives.

Instructions

• 1

  Speak effectively. Communicate what needs to be said in an effective manner. Have all information available and communicate it in a clear, concise way that the other person can understand with a minimal amount of trouble.

• 2

  Listen effectively to what the other person has to say. Instead of searching for something else to say, listen to what information is being relayed. Pay close attention to body language and voice inflection to pick up hidden clues in what the person is saying that may not be apparent from the words they are speaking.

• 3

  Give feedback to the speaker in a positive manner by asking questions and paraphrasing what the other party has said. This is important in speaking with doctors as well because orders must be read back in order to assure they are correct.

• 4

  Pay attention to non verbal signals. Make eye contact when speaking and mind the tone of your voice. Take heed of your body's positioning and correct anything that would give the wrong impression. For instance, crossing your arms can often be seen as a sign of anger. Be sure that you are not exhibiting these signs unaware.

• 5

  Avoid statements that start with "you." Instead, focus on "I" statements to express your feelings in the matter and communicate without blaming. "I" statements make a person feel more at ease with you and encourage a feeling of sharing. "You" statements are presumptive and put a person on his guard.

• 6

  Be assertive. Assertiveness is not to be confused with aggressiveness. Assertive means: positive, confident and willing to take a stand for what is right. Aggressive is: pushy, bullying and mean. Assertiveness will get your point across to your coworkers and get your opinions heard. It will get your questions answered and may even help save a patient.

• 7

  Handle conflict immediately with tact and assertiveness. Don't sweep it under the rug. Let all parties have their say and address all sides of the conflict equally. Everyone involved should have a say in what the solution to the conflict should be in order to come to a solution that everyone can live with.