The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric
2nd EditionLawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses
661 solutions
Technical Writing for Success
3rd EditionDarlene Smith-Worthington, Sue Jefferson
468 solutions
Technical Writing for Success
3rd EditionDarlene Smith-Worthington, Sue Jefferson
468 solutions
Technical Writing for Success
3rd EditionDarlene Smith-Worthington, Sue Jefferson
468 solutions
Cannot speak clearly [aphasia, dysarthria, muteness]: Listen attentively, do not interrupt, ask simple questions, allow time, use visual cues, use communication aids
Cognitive impairment: Use simple sentences, ask one question at a time, allow time for patient to respond, be an attentive listener, include family and friends
Hearing impairment:Check for hearing aids, reduce environmental noise, get patient's attention, face the patient, do not chew gum, speak in a normal voice, rephrase, provide sign language
Visually impaired: Check for glasses, identify yourself, speak in a normal tone, do not rely on gestures or nonverbal communication, use indirect lighting, use 14-point print
Unresponsive: Call the patient by name, verbally and by touch; speak to patient as though the patient can hear; explain all procedures; provide orientation
Does not speak English: Speak to the patient in normal tone, establish a method to signal the desire to communicate, provide an interpreter, avoid using family members, develop communication aids
Elements of the communication process:
Referent = event or thought initiating the communication
Sender = person who initiates and encodes the communication
Receiver = person who receives and decodes, or interprets, the communication
Message = information that is communicated
Channel = method of communication
Feedback = response of the receiver
The dynamic process of communication occurs when six key elements interact.
The referent, or initiating
event or thought that leads one person to interact with another, may be anything, including a sensation.
A patient may initiate a conversation as a result of feeling pain, having thoughts or concerns, recognizing a new lesion or symptom, hearing something unfamiliar or confusing, tasting a strange flavor, or smelling an unfamiliar scent.
Each perceived event has the potential for initiating communication with others.
Senders may be individuals or groups who have a message to
share.
Senders encode messages by translating their thoughts and feelings into communication with a receiver.
The sender decides which mode of communication can most effectively convey the intended meaning of the message.
A message is the content transmitted during communication. Messages are transmitted through all forms of communication, including spoken, written, and nonverbal modalities.
Many factors influence whether a message is effectively communicated.
The
timing of conversations, educational levels of the people involved, modes of communication used, and physical and emotional factors may determine the outcome of interaction among individuals.
The nurse must observe the patient's nonverbal messages to avoid missing essential elements of the communication.
Messages are conveyed and received through a variety of channels. [Ask students what channels a patient may use.]
Any of the five senses may be used as channels, or methods, of
communication.
When a patient calls for help, the channel of communication is auditory.
When a nurse observes a patient's gait for stability, communication is achieved through the visual channel.
When a patient's wound smells noxious, the channel is olfactory.
The accuracy of communication may be affected by the number of channels used to convey information.
Typically, the more channels that are used to communicate, the more effectively the message is conveyed.
This may
not be the case, however, when the use of too many channels of communication overwhelms the receiver with information.
There must be a receiver of information for the process of communication to take place.
Receivers need to actively listen, observe, and engage in a conversation to decode, or sort out the meaning of, what is being communicated.
Numerous factors may affect the ability of the receiver to accurately decode a message, including shared experiences with the
sender, timing, educational background, cultural influences, and physical and emotional states.
The message may be misinterpreted if clarity is not sought and achieved by the receiver.
To avoid misinterpretation of a message, it is essential that the receiver provide feedback to the sender regarding the conveyed meaning.
By asking the receiver to restate the message, the sender is able to verify that the message was understood.
This is especially important when a nurse and
patient are communicating.
If a nurse uses medical terminology that is not understood and a patient does not ask for clarification, effective communication cannot take place.
Verification in the form of feedback is essential in nurse-patient interactions to ensure successful communication.