Communication for Nurses
EMERSION COURSE FOR ENTERING BSN
STUDENTS

What Verbal Communication for Nurses is NOT
 Intrapersonal
 An interior dialogue with oneself
 Interpersonal
 A dialogue between persons with equal expectations for
personal gain
 Social
 Dialogue between peers for entertainment
 Self-serving
 Patient is focus-not nurse

Omnipresent
circular
process of
transmitting,
coding, and
sending
messages
Verbal and Communication Definition
Non-verbal

Verbal Communication
 Subject to misinterpretation
 e.g. What does the sentence, “You cannot put too many
chocolate chips in chocolate chip cookies” mean?
 Dependent on understanding of
language, slang, clichés
 e.g. What does the sentence, “Do you have any bread” mean?
 Dependent on intent, such as sarcasm
 e.g. What does the sentence, “ I love it when James walks in
front of me and then slams the door in my face” mean?

Words
Sentences
Sounds
Tone
Verbal Communication

Non-verbal Communication
 Subject to cultural interpretation
 More powerful than verbal communication
 Easier to understand than verbal communication

Body
language
closed
Non-verbal Communication

Body
language
open
Non-verbal Communication

Personal
space is
culturally
determined
Non-verbal Communication

Facial
Expressions
Non-verbal communication

Types of Communication for Nurses
 Effective
 Used to obtain necessary information in the quickest possible
manner
 Therapeutic
 Used as a means of promoting relief through verbally mediated
processes
 Professional
 Used to transmit important information

Effective Communication
 Closed ended questions
 What is your name?
 Where does it hurt?
 Yes no questions
 Are you hungry?
 Are you married?
 Commands
 Point to the area that hurts
 Open your mouth

Used to
collect base-
line
information.
Needed to
make quick
decisions
Effective Communication

Therapeutic Communication
 Open ended questions/statements
 How are you?
 Tell me more
 Minimal encouragements to continue
 Go on
 Uh huh
 Active listening
 Therapeutic use of silence
 Open body language

Used to help persons
collect their
thoughts, articulate their
feelings, and experience
relief through catharsis.
Therapeutic Communication

Examples of Facilitators to Communication
 Using Silence
 Accepting  Yes, I understand what
you said
 Giving Recognition  Hello Mr. H. I notice you
shaved yourself this AM
 Offering Self
 I’ll stay with you a while
 Giving Broad Openings
 Tell me what you are
thinking
 Go on
 Offering General Leads

Facilitators to Communication
 Restating  Client “I can’t study. My
mind keeps wandering.”
 Nurse “You are having
trouble concentrating.”
 Client “What do you
 Reflecting
think I should do about
my medication cost.”
 Nurse “How do you think
this problem can be
addressed?”

Examples of Barriers to Communication
 Giving Reassurance  “I wouldn’t worry about
that if I were you.”
 Better: “We will work
on that together”
 “I don’t want to hear
about it.”
 Rejecting
 “I think you should take
 Giving Advice
your medication.
 Better “What do you
think would be best?”

Examples of Barriers to Communication
 Approving or  “That’s good. I am happy
Disapproving you did that.”
 “That’s bad. You
shouldn’t do that.”
 Agreeing or Disagreeing  “That’s right. I agree.”
 “That’s wrong. I
disagree.”
 Making stereotyped
 “Keep you chin up.”
comments
 Asking “Why” questions.  “Why are you crying?”

Professional Communication
 Shift reporting
 Record keeping and documentation
 Presentations and publication

Nurses
relating vital
information
about patients
at the change
of a hospital
shift. The
nurse on the
left is going
home. The
nurse on the
Shift Reporting
right is
starting work.

A patient
record
Accurate, c
onfidential
legal
document
Time, descrip
tion, signatur Record Keeping and
e Documentation

Professional
communicati
on is the basis
for life-long
learning
Presentations and Publications