Category: Communication

Communication of nurses with patients is one of the most significant parts of their work since the emotional and mental state of a person is no less important than physical health. Communication between the nurse and the patients family is equally important because the anxiety of family members affects their health, interaction with the patient, and their ability to provide support. This knowledge is critical for the ER nurse, who constantly works with relatives of patients requiring urgent help. Consequently, this paper provides a summary of an article by Lukmanulhakim et al. that studies the relationship between the quality of nurses communication and the level of anxiety among family members.

The study is practical research of the quality of nurses communication, as well as its impact on the state of the patients family staying in the emergence room. Lukmanulhakim et al. (2016) selected dr. Dradjat Prawiranegara hospital, where they were able to observe the work of the nurses and the reactions of the family of a patient. The study was divided into two parts, the first of which was aimed at studying various features of nursing communication, and the second part was designed to measure the level of anxiety of the family members. The method of collecting information for the first part was an observation, which was carried out by four enumerators collecting data in an observational sheet. This sheet included various elements such as eye contact, openness, empathy, the use of simple language, and even dress code (Lukmanulhakim et al., 2016). Lukmanulhakim et al. (2016) used questionnaires and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y-1 to measure the level of anxiety. These methods limit the number of participants but are optimal for research purposes.

The results showed that the quality of communication of all nurses was on a high level, although there were some flaws. For example, some nurses did not allow the family to ask (Lukmanulhakim et al., 2016). However, the main conclusion of the article is that the higher quality of nurses communication significantly reduces the level of family members anxiety, since they have sufficient information and feel the care of the staff about the patient and themselves.

I chose this article because it refers to my professional interests and discusses the issues that I will face during my work. As a future ER nurse, I must know how to communicate with patients relatives properly to help them cope with stress and remain a support for the patient. Lukmanulhakim et al. (2016) discuss both professional qualities and aspects of communication that are critical for a nurse, and factors that influence the level of family anxiety. This information needs to be taken into account and is useful to me. Although the results of the study were not unexpected to me, since I know about the significance of communication and support in healthcare, I discovered several new nuances. For example, the authors emphasize the importance of a neat and professional look, maintaining a distance of 30-50 cm from a person during a conversation, as well as the ability of the family to ask questions (Lukmanulhakim et al., 2016). These aspects are logical and understandable after reading the article, but before I did not think about their importance.

In conclusion, the article on the relationship between the quality of communication and the level of family concern is useful knowledge for the ER nurse, who constantly faces similar situations. The authors of the article confirm the importance of communication and also highlight the nuances and skills necessary to improve it. In addition, this study highlights the external factors influencing the familys response, the understanding of which is essential for the quality work of a nurse.

Reference

Lukmanulhakim, Suryani, & Anna, A. (2016). The relationship between the communication of nurses and level of anxiety of patients family in emergency room dr. Dradjat Prawiranegara hospital, Serang Banten, Indonesia. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 4(12), 54565462. Web.

Nonverbal cues are as important as verbal communication when having a conversation with another person. One of the embarrassing situations I experienced was with the traditional OK sign. I have a friend who is Brazilian, and his parents are immigrants who do not speak much English. Once, I was picking up my friend to go to a festival, and his mother said something to me, but I could not understand it since she was at the doorstep, and I was in the car listening to music. I did not want to be impolite, so I decided to agree with what she was saying, and I showed an OK sign. The next day my friend told me that his mother said I was a disrespectful and rude person. I learned that the OK sign in their culture could be perceived as offensive. I additionally found that among other nonverbal cues that are accepted in my country but are perceived as offensive are thumbs-ups, devils horns, and peace signs.

As for the job interview, I would pay attention to eye contact, vocalics, and facial expression, such as smiling. When considering eye contact, it can be useful because it can show that I am not hiding anything from them, yet if it is too long, it can be disrespectful and intimidating in other cultures. Vocalics is an integral part since being overly loud can ruin the first expression (Goodman 436). Finally, facial expressions are important since while in some countries it is accepted and encouraged, in other countries, it is necessary to be restrained in emotions (Goodman 437). If I were being interviewed in another culture, such as from the East, I might be required to maintain minimal eye contact, facial expression, and quieter vocalics as opposed to Western countries.

Finally, an ineffective nonverbal cue that I once used in a conversation was crossed arms. When I am around people I do not know, I tend to have closed body language, such as putting my hand in my pockets or crossing my arms. As a result, the conversation I had with the person was short since they probably assumed I was uninterested. It could affect future conversations with the person since they would find my attitude hostile and not approach me. What I could do differently was to use open body language, such as using hand gestures.

Work Cited

Goodman, Layne. Exploring Relationship Dynamics. Maricopa Open Digital Press, 2021.

Abstract

The proposed Electronic health record systems (EHRS) change for the Vila Health Independence Medical Center will impact all aspects of the hospitals operation. Due to this fact, this paper reviews the stakeholders that are significant for the alteration and determines their involvement and value of the proposed strategy to each group. Additionally, to ensure buy-in, assessment of interests and communication of the benefits that the new EHRS will provide is recommended.

Introduction

EHRS is considered to be an essential component of innovation within the healthcare industry. The current workflow and operations at the Vila Health Independence Medical Center are compromised by the inefficiently working EHRS and Health Information Management (HIM). This paper aims to outline the major stakeholders that will be affected by the implementation of the new EHRS strategy, as well as practices that help ensure buy-in.

Stakeholder Impact

The Appendix provides an assessment of stakeholder groups at Vila Health Independent Medical Center. The relevant stakeholders to this impact analysis are both medical personnel that is directly in contact with patients and administrative staff responsible for an efficient workflow. Physicians, nurses, and financial managers may be more relevant than others because their cooperation with the EHRS directly impacts the quality of care and reimbursement that the establishment receives.

In order to arrive at recommendations related to a health information management (HIM) system, the process of analyzing the existing EHRS and its competitors was applied. Additionally, the feedback from executives and employees working at Independence Medical Center was assessed. Areas of unclear or missing information that can be used to improve the process in the future are the levels of information technology knowledge that current employees possess and the ability of the center to purchase EHRS that can integrate several components of the hospitals information technology systems.

Previous recommendations include substituting the Opus system for a more efficient program and focusing on employee training with the engagement of personnel with excellent technical knowledge. The timeline for implementing them is a year because the proposed strategy is complex and requires an alteration within all aspects of the centers functioning. Challenges in regards to logistics, resources, and training involve a need to introduce a new education plan that will help personal use the new system, the process of changing Opus that will require additional planning, and the financial resources necessary for this purchase. According to Chao, Hu, Ung, and Cai (2013), some physicians may be concerned with legal liability associated with EHR use. Additionally, the preference for handwriting the diagnosis and treatment plan as well as the lack of appropriate information technology skills are another challenge that should be addressed during training.

The impact, including value, of these recommendations on resource allocation, as outlined in the Appendix. It is anticipated that patient outcomes will improve due to the ability to integrate and synchronize information from different management systems (Mirani & Harpalani, 2013). New training will be affected because the medical center will have to cooperate with vendors to ensure that the personnel is capable of using the system. Workflow changes will be impacted at the initial stages of implementation due to a need for transition. However, the efficiency of daily operations will be enhanced. Best practices for overcoming implementation barriers are recommended by Yip, Phaal, and Probert (2014), who argue that the engagement of stakeholders in the early stages of EHRS development and implementation is critical. Contrary to data and opposing viewpoints in regards to this strategy may be connected to the fact that non-technical professionals may be incapable of providing substantial input into choosing and setting up a system. Value statements for critical stakeholders are included in the Stakeholder Matrix in the Appendix. The criteria that can be used to evaluate the degree to which the value for a stakeholder was delivered is employee satisfaction with the new EHRS.

Buy-in Practices

The best practices that guarantee the buy-in of stakeholders and proper implementation in this process are engaging them in the process, assessing feedback, and developing criteria for ensuring that their needs are met. Chaa et al. (2013) argue that the application of EHRS allows for better communication and is beneficial for all stakeholders, including patients, medical personnel, and the establishment. The authors suggest assessing the interest of different groups that will be using an EHRS before implementing any changes, which is the purpose of this paper. Pouloudi, Currie, and Whitley (2016) argue that favorable or unfavorable attitudes of stakeholders towards EHRS determine the result of system implementation. Therefore, focus on primary stakeholders and continuous communication with them are crucial. Overall, this paper outlines the importance of stakeholders to the improvement of the current EHRS at Villa Health Independence Medical Center and offers approaches that enable buy-in.

Appendix

Stakeholder Matrix (created by the author).

References

Chao, W. C., Hu, H., Ung, C. O. L., & Cai, Y. (2013). Benefits and challenges of electronic health record system on stakeholders: a qualitative study of outpatient physicians. Journal of Medical Systems, 37(4), 9960. Web.

Mirani, R., & Harpalani, A. (2013). Business benefits or incentive maximization? Impacts of the Medicare EHR incentive program at acute care hospitals. ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems (TMIS), 4, 20-38. Web.

Pouloudi, N., Currie, W., & Whitley, E. (2016). Entangled stakeholder roles and perceptions in health information systems: A longitudinal study of the U.K. NHS N3 network. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 17, 107-161. Web.

Yip, M. H., Phaal, R., & Probert, D. R. (2014). Stakeholder engagement in early stage product-service system development for healthcare informatics. Engineering Management Journal, 26(3), 52-62. Web.

Introduction

Cultural ancestry determines the behavior of its bearers in every sphere of life. People of different cultures demonstrate discrepancies in sharing thoughts and feelings, personal space, eye contact, gestures, and many other specific features. However, cultural ancestry becomes crucial in healthcare when the knowledge of the patients cultural background and consideration of peculiarities can predetermine more effective treatment. This paper presents diverse aspects typical of Cuban ancestry and their role in nursing and health care.

Cuban Cultural Ancestry

My cultural ancestry is Cuban. Cuban people live in a multiracial society, which has a strong impact on their behaviors. Cuban society consists mainly of individuals of Spanish and African origins, while there are representatives of other ethnicities such as Chinese, Haitians, and Eastern Europeans (Purnell, 2014). Cuban cultural heritage was greatly influenced by the United States, Spain, and the Soviet Union at different times of the countrys development. Cuban people have a strong sense of national identity, which also has an impact on both family and interpersonal relationships. Although the desire for freedom stimulated many Cuban people to move to the United States, they preserved their ethnic identity and value Cuban traditions.

Sharing Thoughts, Feelings, and Ideas among Cuban People

Communication implies sharing thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Spanish is a major language for communication among Cuban people. Nevertheless, it was influenced by African culture and tribal languages, thus forming a specific Cuban Spanish, which is the official language of the country. At present, English is also important, and it is the second language taught at Cuban schools (Giger, 2013). Cuban people value smooth interpersonal relationships characterized by the absence of confrontation and criticism (Purnell, 2014, p. 134). Respect and courtesy are integral aspects of interpersonal relationships. Some taboos accepted by Cuban people are not unique to their culture. For example, a person should avoid spitting and blowing ones nose in public (Cuba, 2017). Also, it is not acceptable to take pictures of people without their permission.

The Practice and Meaning of Touch

Touch, including handshakes and hugs, is common in Cuban culture. However, it is acceptable among family members, friends, and acquaintances (Purnell, 2014). Also, touch is not common between people of different genders who do not know each other well. Still, it is quite common to touch (shake hands, for example) a caregiver to express gratitude.

Personal Spacing and Distancing Strategies

As for spacing, standing close to a person during a conversation is typical of Cubans (Giger, 2013). It is normal to tap a person in the process of communication to make a point. On the whole, Cubans are not very sensitive to personal space and prefer being close to people, which can lead to problems in communication with the representatives of ethnicities who value distance. Still, distance during communication with family members or friends is shorter than with strangers. While people whom Cubans know well stand in about two feet, those they meet for the first time are expected to stand farther.

Cuban Use of Eye Contact

Eye contact is significant for Cuban people. It is particularly true about formal situations. Thus, maintaining eye contact is important, and failing to do so can be treated as a sign of insincerity and even spite (Giger, 2013). Thus, it is important to consider this peculiarity of the Cuban people during communication to keep them involved and make them believe they are interested, sincere, and respectful (Cuba, 2017). Eye contact is significant disregarding age or gender. Nevertheless, it is more accepted among acquaintances than with strangers.

Meaning of Gestures and Facial Expressions

In addition to language, either Spanish or English, non-verbal communication is important. Cuban people actively use gestures to support what they say and express emotions. People with other ethnical backgrounds can consider Cubans forceful and loud. There are some specific gestures used by Cuban people. For example, beckoning can be expressed through waving fingers inward with the palm down (Giger, 2013, p. 650). At the same time, a beckoning gesture with a palm up is considered to be hostile. Silence also has a particular meaning in Cuban communication because it usually means awkwardness or uncertainty. Facial expressions are usually animated, which shows the involvement of a person. On the whole, Cuban people are very emotional and open in the expression of their emotions through all the available channels, both verbal and non-verbal.

Acceptable Ways of Standing and Greeting People among Cubans

There are no specific traditions or cultural demands about standing, while greetings have some peculiarities to consider. A firm handshake is a common greeting among Cuban men. At the same time, women prefer kissing and using verbal greetings. Greetings within the family and among friends usually include a firm hug (Cuba, 2017). Age is also determining the nature of touches. While young people of the opposite sex can greet each other by kissing on a cheek, older adults prefer gestures that symbolize respect (Giger, 2013).

Cuban Temporal Relation

Cuban temporal relations are mainly concentrated on current issues while the future ones are not in focus. Cubans tend to avoid schedules and are usually not punctual (Giger, 2013). The event itself and impressions are more important than arriving on time. There is a concept of Cuban time, which is not a definite period and can last from one to two hours above the arranged time (Purnell, 2014). Thus, it is common for Cuban people to be late for an appointment, which is a peculiarity to be considered when dealing with Cubans.

The Impact of My Culture on Nursing and Healthcare

Cultural peculiarities are crucial for nursing practice and healthcare. It is important to address cultural differences to provide high-quality care and achieve the best possible patient outcomes. When it comes to Cuban people, it is necessary to consider food traditions, language peculiarities, social spaces, folk medicine, and other aspects (Tena, 2012). Some aspects of Cuban culture meaningful for nursing and healthcare should be discussed in more detail.

Thus, communication peculiarities should be taken into account. It is important to determine which language the patient speaks to deliver information effectively. Since touching is acceptable among close people and family members, a physician should explain the necessity of physical contact during the examination to the patient and obtain his or her permission (Purnell, 2014). The peculiarity of Cuban treatment of time should be considered as well. In case it is important to arrive on time to some diagnostic appointment, the patient should be warned in advance. Time relations have to be taken into account in inpatient education which follows medical and nursing care in a hospital. Thus, follow-up medications should be selected with the consideration of the patients time orientation. Moreover, dietary peculiarities are also important. Cuban cuisine has both Spanish and African roots and uses mainly locally grown products, and is often spicy. Thus, the diet of the patient should be discussed individually because some traditional foods maybe not be recommended for certain patient conditions. Finally, the most important consideration for nursing and healthcare is the patients family since it is crucial for Cuban people. The family is involved in making decisions and is a significant source of support for the patient.

The consideration of cultural peculiarities is expected to have a positive impact on the process of care. A disease is usually a condition of stress, and attention, as well as respect for cultural aspects, is likely to make the patient more relaxed. Moreover, family involvement and their support will be another factor contributing to the patients well-being.

Conclusion

Generally speaking, the cultural background is a crucial aspect of a persons life. It has an impact on every sphere, including healthcare. People with different cultural ancestry demonstrate diverse attitudes and behaviors and should be treated individually. Thus, for Cuban people, it is important to pay attention to communication peculiarities such as speech, eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures. Also, it is advisable for a nurse or other caregivers to take into account personal spacing preferences and attitude to touch. Moreover, temporal relations typical of the culture should be regarded. On the whole, it can be concluded that cultural knowledge should be a part of nurse training to empower nurse professionals to provide high-quality care. Consideration of cultural ancestry is a significant part of patient care that has the potential to improve patient outcomes.

References

Cuba. (2017). Web.

Giger, J. (2013). Transcultural nursing: Assessment and intervention (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

Purnell, L. D. (2014). Guide to culturally competent health care (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.

Tena, A. C. M. (2012). Cultural factors and primary health care in Cuba. A view from community praxis. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 3(1), 124-132.

Introduction

Workplace communication is a critical component of professional interaction among colleagues as its effectiveness directly impacts a variety of performance indicators. In nursing practice, effective communication affects a wide range of competency and healthcare outcomes. Oral communication among staff helps to eliminate misunderstandings and mitigate conflict. Productive communication enables the exchange of information and experience that creates a positive workplace environment.

Intercultural interaction is central to professional growth and cooperation, both amongst staff and communication with patients as the healthcare environment becomes more inclusive of minorities. Finally, introducing innovative methods of communication can be vital to improving teamwork, creating organizational change, and influencing the success of workplace interventions. Effective communication presents an opportunity to interact with team members and the management productively reduces the time required to assist patients and enhances the professionalism of the staff through the exchange of experience.

Evidence from Academic Literature

Oral Communication

Oral communication is the primary method of interaction in most workplaces and organizations, thus, making it central to effective communication. As Brink and Costigan (2015) note that oral communication among the most important competencies for success in the workplace (p.218). That is due to the close and personal interaction among colleagues is inevitable, resulting in cohesiveness and better understanding. Oral communication consists of three distinct skills of presenting, listening, and conversing.

Listening (the act of receiving a message aurally) is often considered the most crucial aspect as it serves as the middle balance between presentation (sending the message vocally) and conversation (responding). Listening requires active participation by demonstrating full attention and portraying adequate reactions (Brink & Costigan, 2015). Oral communication amongst staff and team members is often used for informal communication that allows for the exchange of information and experience. This aids in the formation of workplace relationships, as well as lead to improved performance results as more experienced employees, can provide mentorship to new hires in ways that structured training and organizational guidelines would be unable to do.

Internal Communication

Internal and productive communication often occurs among staff, leading to interactions among employees that improve camaraderie and more active engagement. Karanges, Johnson, and Lings (2015) argue that this type of informal communication can significantly benefit the employee base by creating a sense of community and creating a positive state of mind. This type of communication contributes to increased productivity, better organization image, and decreased attrition.

Development of effective internal communication is vital since it dominates the professional life of most everyone as employees interact in teams, with their supervisor, and the organization as a whole. With competent internal communication, the staff will feel that they are presented adequate amounts of information regarding the tasks at hand or job opportunities, thus leading to increased satisfaction and professionalism. Therefore, internal supervisor communication and workplace relationships directly impact the development of optimal employee engagement (Karanges et al., 2015).

Intercultural Communication

In a globalized world, employees in any given organization or sector encounter the challenge of intercultural communication as multicultural and multiethnic teams collaborate on various projects. In healthcare, in particular, nurses are constantly interacting with patients and other professionals from different cultures, greatly requiring the skill of cultural competency and subsequent communication abilities.

Martin and Nakayama (2015) discuss the importance and virtue of intercultural interaction in an organization. It is a principle of labor organization and communication that offers compliance with modern standards of the work process. Furthermore, skills in intercultural communication allow to prevent unacceptable behavior in the forms of racism or prejudices. Instead, it fosters respect for ethnic and cultural identity which allows for improved cooperation (Martin & Nakayama, 2015). This is vital in the modern society as organizations with multicultural teams have empirically been proven to be more effective, innovative, and successful.

Innovative Communication

Communication in the modern world takes places as much online as it does offline, with organizations investing significant resources to develop virtual communication technologies. This interaction leads to networking ties, leading to interesting relationships to form among employees. Zhang and Venkatesh (2013) outline that online and offline communication patterns are both distinct, but at the same time, intertwined. Employees group together and form relationships on the basis of both, professional and personal interests. These ties formed in the communication networks serve as complementary resources that interact to improve job performance.

While offline communication offers some benefits of direct interaction and professional cooperation, the online realm allows to expand these networks online since virtual communication is unbounded by temporal and spatial barriers. Therefore, online communication is beneficial for its speed and efficiency, but it serves as a complement to the offline interaction necessary for the exchange and understanding of complex knowledge (Zhang & Venkatesh, 2015). The application of communication techniques in innovative technology has a myriad of positive outcomes if competently applied in the workplace to improve team communications and job performance.

Application to Professional Practice

Applying the communication skills and methods outlined above for nurses in the workplace can significantly benefit the professional experience and lead to an improved exchange of information and experience regarding provided care, which in turn, leads to better patient outcomes. Communication becomes vital to the establishment of teamwork, as team members are expected to contribute their knowledge for the effectiveness of the team.

The effect of communication skills and cognitive processes in the endeavor should be recognized as the dynamic aspects of human cognition allow to perceive, interpret and make decisions. In health care practice, teams are also dynamic, with very few being fixed with pre-established roles. Therefore, on the go communication is vital for successful outcomes since any breakdown in communication will lead to errors. While many strategies for improvement of communication in healthcare teams are based on organizational structures, it is imperative to develop certain approaches on a more personal and professional level to enhance professional interaction (Gluyas, 2015).

Communication methods are extensive and medical staff can significantly benefit by combining them in practice, for instance by incorporating both online interaction tools and informal oral communication. Effective communication is paramount to both, interaction with patients and with other staff members, requiring the cultivation of this skill from early days of nursing education.

However, the rapidly changing realities of the modern world are introducing new technology as well as evidence-based changes to protocols that inherently affect communication. Electronic devices and the use of text messaging and emails are becoming more commonplace to complement oral communication. Therefore, through a blend of communication tools and methods, positive outcomes are seen by improving personal competency, allowing recordkeeping, improved organization, and administration of tasks.

Furthermore, it helps with more efficient management of data and staff cooperation as online tools can notify numerous individuals in various areas of the hospital (Koivunen, Niemi, & Hupli, 2014). Overall, the various communication skills are extremely beneficial in the blended exchanges of modern healthcare as they can be applied both in-person and virtually.

Healthcare organizations and nursing managers can use communication techniques to accomplish a number of tasks. First, effective communication inherently increases performance indicators of staff, leading to better patient care and efficiency in healthcare delivery. Next, methods of communication and interaction may be used to create improved communication between managers and hospital administration with their subordinate staff and nurses.

This would allow for open communication channels that would offer a contribution to improving the workplace and personal satisfaction by addressing any crucial issues. Finally, effective communication can be vital to coordinating of staff in joint activities, organizational change, and large-scale interventions, all of which require significant communication between the leadership and nursing staff to ensure optimal outcomes (Foronda, MacWilliams, & McArthur, 2016).

Strategies on an organizational level to improve communication include programs for team communication, improvement of organizational practices such as checklists, protocols, and the introduction of structured tools such as briefings and staff participation (Gluyas, 2015). Through an organizations leadership and commitment of resources, healthcare communication can greatly improve on a widespread scale.

Conclusion

Effective communication is vital to the nursing profession as interaction among team members and management significantly improves patient outcomes, decreases the time necessary to assist patients, and enhances professionalism on various levels. To foster effective communication, there must be appropriate conditions created in the healthcare workplace which would support nursing collaboration and exchange of information and experience.

An intervention should be adopted in workplaces that focus on educating and changing workflows in a manner that would stimulate oral communication, encourage productive discussions, promote intercultural and interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovate methods of contact. There are significant benefits from the adoption of effective communication in a healthcare organization, justifying the relevance and cost of adopting such concepts into nursing practice.

References

Brink, K. E., & Costigan, R. D. (2015). Oral communication skills: Are the priorities of the workplace and AACSB-accredited business programs aligned? Academy of Management Learning & Education, 14(2), 205-221.

Foronda, C., MacWilliams, B., & McArthur, E. (2016). Interprofessional communication in healthcare: An integrative review. Nurse Education in Practice, 19, 36-40. Web.

Gluyas, H. (2015). Effective communication and teamwork promotes patient safety. Nursing Standard, 29(49), 50-57.

Karanges, E., Johnston, K., Beatson, A., & Lings, I. (2015). The influence of internal communication on employee engagement: A pilot study. Public Relations Review, 41(1), 129-131.

Koivunen, M., Niemi, A., & Hupli, M. (2014). The use of electronic devices for communication with colleagues and other healthcare professionals  Nursing professionals perspectives. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(3), 620-631. Web.

Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2015). Reconsidering intercultural (communication) competence in the workplace: A dialectical approach. Language and Intercultural Communication, 15(1), 13-28.

Zhang, X., & Venkatesh, V. (2013). Explaining employee job performance: The role of online and offline workplace communication networks. MIS Quarterly, 37(3), 695-722.

Despite the fact that lumbar puncture is a regular procedure in a clinical setting, many patients can have fears and negative preconceptions about it. For this reason, a nurse practitioner can face several communication challenges, for instance, a lack of patients understanding of the puncture. A pessimistic perception and a refusal because of possible risks are problems that arise from this misinterpretation. This issue is especially evident in emergency situations because, in this case getting consent from a patient should be done quickly; moreover, he or she has to be comforted and informed of all the risks.

The goal of a nurse practitioner is to comfort the patient before starting a procedure so that he or she experiences it with as little stress and pain as possible. As Mr. Ortego is reported to be alert and oriented in the question, it is possible for a medical worker to get informed consent out of him. First of all, it would be important to tell about how the process will go, what the doctor will do, and what benefits may it bring. As it is stated, Mr. Ortego suffers from fever, headaches, and vomiting. It is vital to educate him on how lumbar puncture will benefit him in his treatment; however, possible risks should also be addressed,

Even though such honesty may increase the patients anxiety, it would benefit the relationship between him and the medical staff in the long run. Considering that increased involvement and physicians sympathy may improve the patients experience, being honest and open may seem like a reasonable solution to communicating challenges (Boissy et al., 2016). It is evident that a nurse practitioner needs education on the topic of overcoming communication barriers so that patients feel comfortable before getting an anxiety-inducing procedure.

Mr. Ortego is about to undergo an unpleasant, but overall common procedure in medicine called a lumbar puncture. While he is experiencing severe symptoms like vomiting and fever, he is still alert and oriented. That is why it is important that before initiating the procedure, a nurse practitioner informs him about it. However, while doing it, a healthcare worker can face some issues because patients often are not familiar enough with this process. Mr. Ortego can be anxious about going through the procedure or refuse altogether, and for this reason, a nurse practitioner should calm him.

Nevertheless, there are no circumstances under which medical staff can conceal the information from a patient, even with the purpose of soothing his fears since it would be unethical. While cooperating with Mr. Ortego, a nurse practitioner should be relaxed and unhurried. The information should be delivered to him in a calm and collected manner so that a patient is reassured. A nurse should report on all the details of the procedure, tell about benefits to Mr. Ortegos health. At the same time, risks should also be pointed out; for example, a small risk of a spinal headache, infection, and nerve injury (Hudgins, 2017, 1280). While this information may cause more distress, a nurse should also address the fact that such risks are low, and the lumbar puncture can positively impact the result of the treatment. In this way, it is guaranteed that a medical worker has made every effort to resolve a communicating issue while also taking ethical rules into account. Moreover, Mr. Ortego would be provided with proper knowledge and, therefore, can give informed consent to undergoing a lumbar puncture.

Reference

Boissy, A., Windover, A. K., Bokar, D., Karafa, M., Neuendorf, K., Frankel, R. M., Rothberg, M. B. (2016). Communication Skills Training for Physicians Improves Patient Satisfaction. Journal of general internal medicine, 31(7), 755-761.

Hudgins, P. A., Fountain, A. J., Chapman, P. R., & Shah, L. M. (2017). Difficult Lumbar Puncture: Pitfalls and Tips from the Trenches. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 38(7), 1276-1283.

Interactions between personnel are among the key points that are necessary for the success of any organization. In a health care context, well-coordinated teamwork is even more critical, as the lives of others depend on it. Studies show that communication disruption between health workers accounts for more than 60 percent of sentinel events (Wang et al., 2018). That is why the need to improve staff communications was included in the 2021 National Safety Initiatives list. The purpose of this paper is to explore methods that will address this issue.

This problem is most pronounced at the level of nurses and physicians, as specialists who are closest to patients. Without their joint and precise work, it is impossible to provide quality services. Another area requiring close attention is the intensive care unit (Wang et al., 2018). In that department, like no other, patients lives depend on well-coordinated work. In addition, it is necessary to consider the interaction of colleagues from different departments, i.e., interprofessional collaboration, since several specialists often work on the patients health at once (Reeves et al., 2017). However, all these groups differ from each other even in theory; in practice, the differences are amplified due to personal characteristics. Therefore, the methods that solve personnel communication problems should be general and represent general strategies.

First of all, improving the communication of staff can be carried out through their active involvement in joint activities. If the team is cohesive and motivated, and the tasks facing it are clearly and unambiguously defined, cooperation will naturally improve. However, although staff involvement guarantees improved efficiency, in the context of health care, such a task is very challenging (George & Massey, 2020). In the list of initiatives leading to collaboration and success, one can highlight the improvement of culture within the team, strengthening of the structure, and professional development.

Since the responsibility for improving conditions lies with the leader, much depends on this person. The leader in this context must be present in the team, and provide communication in both directions. Finally, studies show that one of the most effective strategies for improving employee engagement is the VCR strategy  Visibility, Communication, Recognition (George & Massey, 2020). Involving nurses in government programs and initiatives has led to healthier workplace culture, leading to better work quality and team cohesion.

In addition to engagement strategies, process improvement concepts such as Six Sigma can improve employee collaboration. Although these techniques were initially developed for industrial management, they can also find application in the health care context. Six Sigma is a quality control methodology focused on improving cycle times and reducing errors (Hayes, 2021). Although the original concept was based on mathematics, the strategy has evolved into a more general ideology focused on meeting and supporting requirements and customers. In addition, the combination of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma has expanded the scope even further.

Ultimately, this approach can even be applied in the health sector. Lean Six Sigma brings all operational activities together, forming many links between an organizations strategic and operational levels (Ahmed et al., 2018). Although this method is not directly aimed at improving employee interaction, this effect is a direct consequence of production optimization. It is impossible to work without cooperation in an optimized system since the final result depends on each team members coordinated joint actions. With the correct application of this management strategy, the interaction of personnel in a healthcare organization can be significantly improved by optimizing organizational performance.

Thus, there are several strategies for improving communication between workers. Some of them focus on the role of the leader in the team, who must unite it for more effective work. Several other approaches suggest using different qualitative assessments to improve communication. Finally, the Six Sigma approach and its variation, Lean Six Sigma, aim to optimize and manage the entire organization as a whole. However, since the optimization process is impossible without coordination of actions, applying this strategy can significantly improve the cooperation of all employees.

References

Ahmed, S., Abd Manaf, N. H., & Islam, R. (2018). Measuring Lean Six Sigma and quality performance for healthcare organizations. International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, 10(3), 267278. Web.

George, V., & Massey, L. (2020). A proactive strategy to improve staff engagement. Nurse Leader, 18(6), 532-535. Web.

Hayes, A. (2021). Six Sigma. Investopedia. Web.

Reeves, S., Pelone, F., Harrison, R., Goldman, J., & Zwarenstein, M. (2017). Interprofessional collaboration to improve professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6). Web.

Wang, Y. Y., Wan, Q. Q., Lin, F., Zhou, W. J., & Shang, S. M. (2018). Interventions to improve communication between nurses and physicians in the intensive care unit: An integrative literature review. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 5(1), 81-88. Web.

Introduction

Patients and residents in nursing homes and other long-term care (LTC) facilities may face challenges due to their deteriorating health conditions, mainly caused by old age. As a result, appropriate communication forms an essential part of their daily routines to ensure that they can have a better quality of life. By communicating efficiently and consistently, patients and residents receive better care since their needs are properly understood by nursing assistants who spend a majority of their time with them (Martin, 2013). Further, by following guidelines, health care providers in LTC can respect and uphold the rights of those in their care. Therefore, enhanced communication plays a significant role in developing an appropriate culture that protects residents and patients rights while in LTC facilities.

Efficient Communication

Communication refers to the exchange of information with others using different means available. Such interactions may either be verbal or non-verbal in nature. Verbal communication involves the use of words in conversations that may be face-to-face or electronic, through media such as telephones. On the other hand, non-verbal communication refers to the use of other characteristics such as facial expressions, body language, or gestures in place of words. In most cases, this type of communication is unintentional, with an individual displaying cues without their knowledge (Martin, 2013). As a result, people must pay attention to such cues to capture the intended message being portrayed by the other party. Such communication may be referred to as the sender-receiver-feedback model, which hinges on a complete cycle of interaction.

In LTC, communication becomes a critical aspect of daily routines with patients and residents interacting with their care providers to meet their needs. Enhancing this communication ensures that the intended messages are passed in the shortest time possible. Nursing assistants can thus improve their ability to communicate with residents and patients by being good listeners. This provides the opportunity for them to internalize both verbal and non-verbal cues that may highlight the needs of the individual. Further, messages passed to individuals in LTC must be clear to prevent any misunderstanding that may be life-threatening. Additionally, nursing assistants should learn to employ the various techniques that encourage individuals to talk, especially in cases where they may seem irritable or distressed (Martin, 2013). Finally, minding body language also ensures that residents do not perceive any cues showing disinterest in a conversation. These tactics form the basis for enhanced communication in LTC, hence, leading to a better quality of life for both patients and residents in the long run.

More so, reporting and recording data by nursing assistants form the basis for decision-making by nurses or doctors in LTC facilities. As a result, observations made by the assistant, either objectively or subjectively, must be accurately noted down. This includes the aspect of changes in patient or resident conditions, responses to treatment, complaints of pain or discomfort, and refusal of treatment (Martin, 2013). Appropriately recording such situations provides other caregivers with information to react, and appropriate responses are taken to avert a crisis. Recording further becomes legally binding since any form of care not recorded is assumed not to have been provided in the facility. Consequently, care providers must adhere to protocols and guidelines on reporting and recording to continuously provide appropriate care in LTC.

Patient and Resident Rights

Patients and residents have rights protected under a law that provide guidelines aimed at protecting individuals in LTC and creating an atmosphere of open communication. Martin (2013) highlights that in 1973, the American Hospitals Association adopted the patient bill of rights that was designed to guide the interactions of patients, health care providers and administrators. Further, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) also outlines the rights of residents in nursing homes and other facilities. These laws and regulations ensure that both patients and residents receive the highest quality of care at their most vulnerable stage of life. According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2006), certification is when the SA officially recommends its findings regarding whether healthcare entities meet the Acts provider or supplier definitions, and whether the entities comply with standards required by Federal regulations (1012A). Ultimately, this means that these rights are protected under Federal and State laws that regulate the running of LTC facilities.

The three fundamental rights commonly known include the right to privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy. The right to privacy ensures the protection of a patients ability to withhold information or aspects of their life from the scrutiny of others. Wilensky and Teitelbaum (2019) state that important individual rights within health care include the right to make informed healthcare decisions and the right to personal privacy and autonomy (119). This may be implemented by closing doors or covering the patient before administering personal care or medical care. More so, confidentiality ensures that information shared by patients by any means is kept private and only seen by authorized individuals. This is reinforced by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which regulates access to patient data, including medical records, data, and private information (Martin, 2013). Finally, the right to autonomy provides patients and residents with the ability to make decisions regarding their care. This means that the preferences and choices of individuals in LTC must be respected with regard to issues such as clothes, personal care, or the ability to refuse certain procedures. These rights thus ensure the maintenance of the quality of life for patients and residents through these legal channels provided in the country.

Discussion

Upholding the rights of patients and residents in LTC facilities safeguards their stay and improves their ability to live fulfilling lives. In the long run, the aim of nursing homes lies in their ability to provide a safe home through which individuals can comfortably enjoy the environment. Consequently, this may be achieved through adequate communication models that relay information effectively up the channel. Health organizations must have appropriate measures in place that guide providers during the course of their work to prevent any mishaps. Furthermore, patients should be able to access their medical records on demand to check any progress and aid in their decision-making. Health care providers can maintain privacy and confidentiality of patient and resident information by only speaking about patient information when necessary to a person involved with directly providing care to the patient. Additionally, caregivers should only speak about patients in designated areas with adequate privacy while handling medical charts/computers properly by following policies or guidelines in place.

Conclusion

Enhanced communication, therefore, plays a significant role in developing an appropriate culture that protects residents and patients rights while in LTC facilities. Caregivers in LTC must pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues to capture the intended message being portrayed by the other party creating the sender-receiver-feedback model, which hinges on a complete cycle of interaction to pass a message. Additionally, the fundamental constitutional rights, including the rights to privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy, must be respected by all residents and patients. Ultimately, upholding them consistently and without discrimination improves the overall well-being of individuals, thus guaranteeing them an improved quality of life despite their vulnerabilities.

References

Martin, D. (2013). Patients and residents rights [Video]. YouTube. Web.

U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2006) State Operations Manual: Publication #100-07. Web.

Wilensky, S. E., & Teitelbaum, J. B. (2019). Essentials of health policy and law (4^th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Introduction

The quality of interactions between a patient and a healthcare facility, in particular, represents an important issue in healthcare and typically defines health outcomes to a significant extent. A case witnessed recently in a local nursing environment has shown the need for a better cross-cultural approach. Specifically, when managing the needs of an African American female patient, the nurse failed to recognize and address the factors contributing to an increased threat of poor nutrition and the resulting obesity and CVD issues observed in the target population. The insufficient amount of interaction and communication between a patient and a nurse coupled with the failure to tend to patient-specific needs and promote patient education due to the absence of cultural awareness is likely to lead to a significant problem in tending to the patients needs.

Concept 1

To address cross-cultural miscommunication in nurse-patient interactions, considering the situation described above from several conceptual perspectives is needed. This paper will examine a personal situation observed recently in a healthcare setting. The first concept to be considered is that one of collaborative sense-making. Suggested by du Pré and Cook Overton (2021) as an essential part of decision-making in the healthcare context, the notion of collaborative sense-making indicates that a patient can understand the causes of the health issue, the means of addressing it, and the functions that a patient must perform in order to accelerate the process of healing (du Pré& Cook Overton, 2021). Therefore, collaborative sense-making as one of the key goals in managing nurse-patient communication within a healthcare setting is crucial.

Concept 2

Another concept to be connected to the one at hand is the notion of patient socialization. The described factor is vital in understanding the key barriers to health management that the patient has to overcome in order to gain the required services. Du Pré and Cook Overton (2021) emphasize the significance of patient socialization as a factor in shaping the patients ability to address certain health threats independently, as well as recognize them and contact healthcare experts in case of need. Therefore, with effective time management strategies, a nurse should focus on understanding and examining the unique, patient-specific factors in order to locate the best way of treating a health issue.

Example & Concepts

Applying the concepts in question to the case under analysis will help see the necessity to rearrange nurses cross-cultural education and schedules and introduce new staff members to the target facility in order to improve patient outcomes, respectively. Specifically, the concept of collaborative communication demands that a nurse should have enough time to establish a rapport with a patient and help the latter acquire foundational knowledge about his or her disease and cultural factors affecting it, as well as encourage the patients autonomy in identifying key threats and symptoms to be able to contact a healthcare facility in case of a threat. Similarly, the notion of cultural awareness deserves a mentioning since, in the case under analysis, only one nurse showed cultural awareness and was capable of addressing the patients needs. In turn, others ignored the patients discomfort and emotional distress, which can be explained by a rapid rise in workload and the need to disperse attention between several patients at once.

Impressions

Overall, the observed case has left mixed impressions. On the one hand, it illustrated the existing problems with healthcare, particularly, the absence of tools for proper patient-nurse communication. On the other hand, the nurses willingness to support and understand the patient despite the cultural gap gives hope for the well-being of future generations.

Conclusion

Due to the absence of sufficient time for managing each patients needs, as well as challenges in building the understanding of cultures other than the American one, further nurse-patient communication must be established. Moreover, tools for managing the current state of affairs regarding the provision of health services need to be discussed. Thus, nurses and healthcare experts will be able to offer patients the best services available.

Reference

du Pré, A., & Cook Overton, B. (2021). Communication about health: Current issues and perspectives (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Nursing professionals must always ensure that their clients always have access to elements that support their well-being. One of the main components of every patients experience in medical facilities is communication with the staff. Because nurses spend a substantial portion of their working hours interacting with clients, they have to be excellent at providing therapeutic communication.

The concept of therapeutic communication implies promoting both emotional and physical health wellness of the patient through conversations. Essentially, therapeutic communication can be defined as an interaction targeted at improving patients well-being (Blake and Blake, 2019). Such communication can be explained as a provision of emotional support to clients and sharing of vital information with them. Therapeutic communication implies the utilization of special techniques which are used to encourage the response on the part of the client and demonstrate respect and acceptance (Potter, 2018). The role of therapeutic communication is essential for the provision of nursing services in all interactions with clients because it helps to establish trust between the professional and the patient. Additionally, therapeutic communication is important because it contributes to the creation of a relationship between the nurse and the patient, which promotes the health improvement of the latter (Hull, 2018). Ultimately, such communication enables the nursing specialist to deliver care to their patients, which leads to better outcomes.

Therapeutic communication is a key element in nursing care, and all professionals must be able to utilize it in their practice. The concept of therapeutic communication can be described as a means to achieve more positive outcomes in terms of patients health and well-being through verbal interactions. Therapeutic communication is important because it assists the nurse in establishing a caring relationship with the client, which benefits both parties.

References

Blake, T., & Blake, T. (2019). Improving therapeutic communication in nursing through simulation exercise. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 14(4), 260264. Web.

Hull, M. (2018). Relational practice: Beyond introductions and interviewing. College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta. Web.

Potter, P.A. (2018). Canadian fundamentals of nursing (6^th ed.). Elsevier Canada.