COMMUNICATION FOR IV TH YEAR BSC NURSING STUDENTS

2. COMMUNICATION

3. Meaning
The word communication comes from the Latin word communis,
meaning commonness. Communication is a two-way process by
which information exchanged between or among individuals
through a common system of symbols, signs and behavior

4. Communication is simply the act of transferring
information from one place, person or group to another

5. Definition:
• Communication is the process to impart information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium.
Communication requires that all parties have an area of communicative commonality. Chitty (2001) defines
communication as the complex exchange of thoughts, ideas, or information on at least two levels: verbal and nonverbal.
Verbal Communication- the transmission of ideas, opinions, feelings, emotions or attitudes
using words. Ex: comments, question, reactions
Nonverbal Communication- refers to the sending of messages to another person utilizing
methods or means other then words. Ex: facial expression, gesture, eye contact.

6. The recipient
A communication has three parts.
The sender The message
The sender ‘encodes’ the message, usually in a mixture of words and non-verbal communication. It
is transmitted in some way (for example, in speech or writing), and the recipient ‘decodes’ it.
There may be more than one recipient, and the complexity of communication means that each one may
receive a slightly different message. Two people may read very different things into the choice of words
and/or body language. It is also possible that neither of them will have quite the same understanding as
the sender.
In face-to-face communication, the roles of the sender and recipient are not distinct. The two roles will
pass back and forwards between two people talking. Both parties communicate with each other, even if in
very subtle ways such as through eye-contact (or lack of) and general body language. In written
communication, however, the sender and recipient are more distinct

7. Categories of Communication
•Spoken or Verbal Communication, which includes face-to-face, telephone,
radio or television and other media.
•Non-Verbal Communication, covering body language, gestures, how we dress
or act, where we stand, and even our scent. There are many subtle ways that
we communicate (perhaps even unintentionally) with others. For example, the
tone of voice can give clues to mood or emotional state, whilst hand signals or
gestures can add to a spoken message.
CONT…….

8. Categories of Communication
•Written Communication: which includes letters, e-mails, social media, books,
magazines, the Internet and other media. Until recent times, a relatively small
number of writers and publishers were very powerful when it came to
communicating the written word. Today, we can all write and publish our ideas
online, which has led to an explosion of information and communication
possibilities.
•Visualizations: graphs and charts, maps, logos and other visualizations can
all communicate messages.
CONT…….

9. MESSAGE
SENDER
RECIPIENTS
FEEDBACK
CHANNEL
ENCODE
ENCODE
DECODE
DECODE
BARRIERS
The Communication Process

10. Benefits of effective communication in
nursing
1. Immediate understanding of a patient’s condition and needs
The initial point of care and triage and throughout treatment and release (from an acute care
environment) and beyond, nurses are the first, and primary, caregivers. These caregivers
quickly assess, evaluate, and work to understand a patient’s condition. In nearly every case,
nurses are the first and best line of communication regarding patient health to other team
members.
2. Understanding the emotional state of patients
Nurses spend more time with patients than most other caregivers, the amount of personal
communication they have with patients is important for the understanding of a person’s
physical and emotional well-being. The communication nurses have with patients means they
may be able to provide a deeper level of care individually. This granular information can be
significant in a patient’s long-term health. This level of communication also can help them
make decisions on appropriate treatment plans and when implementing care protocols with
other healthcare professionals.
Conti………

11. Conti………
Benefits of effective communication in
nursing
Conti………
3. Understanding the social determinants of
health
Social determinants of health are the social, physical and environmental
conditions in a person’s life that affect overall health status. The social
determinants of health, such as poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and
lack of stable housing, have been shown to increase rates and severity of
chronic conditions and lead to greater morbidity and mortality.
Communicating effectively with patients to understand what some of their
social determinants may be can greatly increase patient health and wellness

12. Conti………
Benefits of effective communication in
nursing
Conti………
4. Tracking changes in care
Understanding patient needs and concerns allows nurses to target their communication and
clinical strategies toward specific patient preferences. Doing so also means they can track
patient progress regularly, measuring deviations in near real-time. Outcomes-based on
regular communication can then be forwarded to other caregivers on the team. When a nurse
is a good listener and frequently checks in on her patients, she is able to reduce both
physical and emotional distress.

13. Conti………
Benefits of effective communication in
nursing
Conti………
5. Identifying specialized needs
A patient may have needs outside their medical care. For example, some patients may have
specialized diets or religious beliefs. Nurses can ensure this information is provided to the
right people so that quality of care isn’t compromised, and the patient’s requirements are
met.

14. Conti………
Benefits of effective communication in
nursing
Conti………
6. Advocating for patients
According to the American Nurses Association’s (ANA’s) “Code of Ethics for Nurses,” patient
advocacy includes a therapeutic relationship and communication between nurse and patient.
As an advocate, a nurse acts as an informer to the patient’s decision-making, standing by the
patient and enabling the patient to make his or her own decisions. Nurse advocates bridge
communication gaps between the patient, other professions and the healthcare system

15. Communication Techniques
Accepting
Using Silence
Giving Recognition
Offering Self
Giving Broad Openings
Active Listening
Seeking Clarification
Making Observations
Placing the Event in
Time
Encouraging
Comparisons
Reflecting
Focusing
Confronting
Voicing Doubt
Offering Hope and
Humor
Summarizing
Accepting
Using Silence
Giving Recognition
Offering Self
Giving Broad Openings
Active Listening
Seeking Clarification

16. THANK YOU

17. BY
JINCE THOMAS
PROFESSOR
SJB COLLEGE OF
NURSING
BANGALORE-60