Addressing Barriers to Effective Communication

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Case Study
Description of Communication Barriers
Proposed Strategies for Better Outcome
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Effective communication is an integral aspect of nursing because nurses constantly interact with patients, families, colleagues, supervisors, and managers in the course of their duties. Rosenblatt and Davis (2009) argue that the nature of communication determines the quality of care that patients receive. In essence, effective communication leads to poor quality of nursing care, while effective communication leads to improved quality nursing care. In this view, healthcare centers must enhance the effectiveness of the communication process so that they can improve the quality of nursing care that patients receive.

Marquis and Huston (2012) analyze the communication process and identify media of communication and environment as factors that determine the effectiveness of communication. In the factor of environment, there is an external environment, which comprises power, status, and authority, while the internal environment comprises feelings, values, emotions, stress, and temperament.

The media of transmitting information that affects the effectiveness of communication are verbal, written, and non-verbal means. Therefore, the essay examines a case study of ineffective communication and describes barriers with a view of proposing strategies that are applicable in promoting better outcomes.

Case Study

In an incident that depicts the ineffectiveness of communication in nursing care, a home health aide, who was providing nursing care to a patient with pressure ulcers, did not communicate effectively with the authorities and colleagues. In the first instance, the aide did not report to the home health agency regarding the presence of a patient with pressure ulcers, who required special care. Furthermore, the aide took the weekend off without reporting to the home health agency and left the patient unattended to by other aides.

After two days, the condition of the patient worsened and led to the development of multiple pressure ulcers. The worsening pressure ulcers caught the attention of another home health agency, which reported the incident to the state and have the patient admitted for further treatment for a couple of days. When asked about the situation, the aide stated that the caregiver prohibited her to report the pressure ulcers and did not allow her to take the weekend off.

Description of Communication Barriers

The communication barriers that are present in the case study related to the reporting of pressure ulcers and allowing the aide to ask permission for the weekend off. The home health agency does not provide for the procedure of reporting pressure ulcers as the aide stated that the caregiver disallowed her from reporting the existence of the patient with pressure ulcers.

The communication barrier is the absence of a communication channel through which the aide can report the occurrence of pressure ulcers among patients to the authority. Robinson, Gorman, Slimmer, and Yudkowsky (2010) cite the nature of hierarchical authority structure as a barrier to effective communication between healthcare providers and their respective authorities. Moreover, the unprofessional practice of excusing oneself from work is an apparent barrier to effective communication.

According to Marquis and Huston (2012), communication entails the transmission of information from sender to receiver via written, verbal, or non-verbal means. Hence, from the case study, the caregiver acts as a personal and institutional barrier to communication between the aide and the home health agency. Overall, the case study presents personal and institutional barriers to effective communication.

Proposed Strategies for Better Outcome

The first proposed strategy that is applicable in improving the outcome of communication in nursing is the training of nurses to acquire professional skills of communication. Thomas, Bertram, and Johnson (2009) recommend the training of nursing students to enhance their communication skills so that they can communicate professionally. The aide lacked professional communication skills for she took the weekend off without seeking permission from the authority.

The second proposed strategy is that the home health agency should provide channels of communication so that nurses can communicate freely with authority or amongst themselves. Boscart (2009) argues that the enhancement of the quality of interactions improves the quality of nursing care. In this view, the aide and the caregiver poorly interacted, and thus led to the worst outcomes of nursing care.

Conclusion

Communication is an integral aspect of nursing because it influences the quality of care that patients receive. Usually, nurses have to communicate with patients, families, colleagues, and other healthcare providers in the course of their duties. The effectiveness of communication is dependent on many factors such as organizational structure, regulations, professionalism, and personal issues. In the case study, it is evident that the lack of organizational channels that allow nurses to communicate with their supervisors and authorities hinders the delivery of quality care.

The aide did not report the case of pressure ulcers because the caregiver disallowed her from doing so. Moreover, lack of professional skills of communication made the aide take the weekend off without seeking permission from the agency. Therefore, to address barriers to effective communication in the case study, training of nurses in the aspect of professional communication and provision of communication channels that improve quality of interaction and consequently the quality of communication is essential.

References

Boscart, V. (2009). A communication intervention for nursing staff in chronic care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(9), 1823-1832. Web.

Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2012). Leadership roles and management functions nursing: Theory and application. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Web.

Robinson, F., Gorman, G., Slimmer, L., & Yudkowsky, R. (2010). Perceptions of effective and ineffective Nurse-physician communication in hospitals. Nursing Forum, 45(3), 206-216. Web.

Rosenblatt, C. L., & Davis, M. S. (2009). Effective communication techniques for nurse managers. Nursing Management, 40(6), 52-54. Web.

Thomas, C. M., Bertram, E., & Johnson, D. (2009). The SBAR communication technique: Teaching nursing students professional communication skills. Nurse Educator, 34(4), 176-180. Web.

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