The importance of effective Communication in Health and Social Care

a) Identify something which you have learned about communications, outline how this might influence how you communicate
b) Thinks about any time when you feel your communication has been limited, how did this make you feel?
c) How can such experiences influence personal development and insight?

ANSWER

The Importance of Effective Communication in Health and Social Care

Communication is one of the core values underpinning nursing practice. Without effective communication within a healthcare organization, it is difficult to provide adequate care to patients, besides functioning as a team.  Moreover, lack of proper communication is partly a cause of increased healthcare costs (Ratna, 2019). To avoid this, it is crucial that healthcare providers master and practice effective communication. I have learnt a number of valuable ideas about the topic of communications, among them being the bidirectional nature of communication. I have always understood the concept of communication as involving a sender and a receiver, but the depth of this bidirectional relationship has not been clear to me until I studied the topic of communication in healthcare. Precisely, I have learnt that unless both the healthcare provider and the patient clearly understand the message being conveyed, the communication cannot be considered effective.

In reference to the aspect of effective communication being directional, I have learnt that communication within healthcare settings must be characterized by three key aspects. Firstly, patients should be allowed and supported to articulate their healthcare needs, complaints and preferences to care providers. Secondly, healthcare providers must demonstrate the ability to understand and interpret patient information accurately so that they can administer the correct treatment. Lastly, healthcare providers should provide patients with sufficient information on preventive measures that will minimize recurring health complaints (Ratna, 2019). These lessons will influence my style of communication in that I will always endeavor to help my patients to feel that they in control. Precisely, I intend to become a better active listener by giving patients sufficient time to express themselves.

In healthcare, communication is not only between providers and patients but also between providers themselves. Unless healthcare providers work as a team where communication between one another is fostered, quality of care is affected. Barriers in communication between providers can also cause dissatisfaction. I remember a time my communication was limited; I felt like quitting the job altogether. I was handling a patient who had recently been admitted into the hospital. In my assessment, the patient would best be attended to under home-based care because of her condition that required constant, keen attention. When I suggested this to the senior clinician, he reprimanded me in front of the patient, claiming he was starting to doubt my competence. I have never felt as humiliated as I did on that day; my boss did not even give me time to justify my proposal. He immediately instructed that the patient be put under care of a different nurse. I walked away feeling bad because I had not been given an opportunity to explain why I felt home-based care was the best for the patient.

As I reflect on the experience described above, the significance of active listening only becomes clearer to me. I might have been the victim in the above scenario, but I acknowledge that there could be instances in the future when I could create barriers to my patients’ or colleagues’ communication. Fully cognizant of the value of teamwork in healthcare, I must aim to work on myself especially concerning being an active listener. An important insight that I get from the above experience, as stated by Etherington (2020), is the need to allow adequate time to the other party with whom one is in communication.

References

Etherington, T. (2020). Effective communication in health and social care. www.theaccessgroup.com/blog/effective-communication-health-and-social-care/

Ratna, H. (2019). The importance of effective communication in healthcare practice. Harvard Public Health Review. http://harvardpublichealthreview.org/healthcommunication/