Identify an area of nursing practice and demonstrate an understanding of its importance in patient care.

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Identify an area of nursing practice and demonstrate an understanding of its importance in patient care.The area chosen for this essay is communication. This essay will attempt to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of communication within nursing practice. It will attempt to define what communication is, and will explain about the different types of communication along with the barriers that can prevent effective communication from occurring. In addition, this essay will explore why communication within nursing is important and it will highlight the importance of communication between healthcare professionals, along with what can go wrong when this type of communication fails. Journals and texts will be used to support the theory of how communication is important in patient care. Evidence and examples from the author’s clinical area will also be included. There are many interpretations of what communication is, and there are several forms it can take. It can be direct, indirect, verbal, and non-verbal, in the form of body language. Communication can be defined simply as “The imparting, conveying, or exchange of ideas, knowledge, information, etc. (whether by speech, writing, or signs).” (Oxford University Press, 2008).One integral part of communication in nursing which can be overlooked, is listening. Often this is an area where nurses assume it is something that is done automatically. However, there is a distinction between the physical function of hearing, which can be a passive activity, to listening that is an active process. When listen actively, meaning is attached on to what the patient is conveying (Dougherty & Lister, 2008). Listening can be seen a basic nursing skill, and is needed to demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the patient’s needs and feelings. Verbal responses and body language when treating a patient are a major priority, and attention to how a nurse speaks and uses body language should be observed. Certain communication factors must be considered, such as tone of voice, and pace of speech, and body language such as eye contact, nodding, and leaning slightly towards the patient. These factors can all work to enhance the nurse-patient relationship to make care more patient-centred (Dougherty & Lister, 2008). Communication within nursing is vital for numerous reasons which include; to share and relay information, to empathise and provide support, and to assist with the reassurance of a patient when completing practical tasks and it is the foundation all
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of nurse-patient interaction. Nurses are in a unique position within a healthcare environment, and are often the first point of contact for patients. (Sheldon, Barrett, & Ellington, 2006). Nurses spend a large amount of time communicating with patients, often not only conveying information but also conveying emotion, and transmitting a reaction to a patient that shows the patient that their feelings are being recognised (McCabe, 2004). For example, a nurse will often show empathy towards a patient to demonstrate an understanding of their feelings. As McCabe’s (2004) study shows, communication in nursing care is an area that is largely overlooked, ...

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