Effective Communication Tips For Nurses
On an average day, Nurses interact with many patients, their families and friends, and exchange information with numerous healthcare staff. It is critical to be a good communicator because medical errors will occur if providers aren’t all on the same page about patients’ diagnoses, treatment plans, etc.
Some effective communication skills every Nurse should possess:
VERBAL
Verbal communication is one of the most important skills in Nursing. The goal is to always speak clearly, in a professional tone, and with honesty. Be aware of your patient’s level of health literacy and avoid complex medical jargon. Vocally make sure everyone on the medical staff is on the same page about any vital patient information.
NON-VERBAL
Patient’s pick up on body language and nonverbal cues just as much as verbal language. According to Indeed, some examples of nonverbal communication skills include:
- Maintaining eye contact when speaking or listening to someone
- Having a relaxed facial expression
- Smiling
- Nodding
- Keeping arms uncrossed
- Crouching when interacting with a bedridden patient
- Respecting the patient’s personal space
CULTURAL AWARENESS
Nurses care for patients from all different backgrounds and cultures. It is important to be sensitive to the needs of each individual. For example, when working with a deaf patient or someone who speaks a language you aren’t fluent in, bring in a translator if necessary. Or if someone has a preferred name or pronoun, you should respect them and refer to them by what they prefer.
WRITTEN
We understand how incredibly busy you are every minute of your shift. Transitioning patient information to the next caregiver is critical and you must be as clear and concise as possible. This includes creating and updating your patient’s medical record and whiteboard.
Try to jot down notes as soon after meeting with your patient as possible so you don’t forget anything and write clearly so others don’t get confused. Notebooks and charting books are great tools for every shift. You can write down any concerns or important information about patients and discuss them later on with other team members.
ACTIVE LISTENING
Active listening means you are listening to understand the other person’s experience and empathize with their situation. This requires your ultimate attention and engagement. Some active listening techniques include:
- Nodding your head, but never interrupting.
- Leaning forward and maintaining eye contact to let the patient know you’re engaged.
- Include minimal verbal encouragement, such as “I understand,” and “go on.”
- Repeating back to them their main point or concern
COMPASSION
Compassionate communication is the ability to exchange your thoughts and ideas with someone, while being empathetic to their suffering and anxiety. Put yourself in their shoes and create a judgment free space for them.
You can demonstrate compassion by using the parroting response which is repeating back what the patient said, but be careful not to overuse this technique because it will inhibit the patient from saying more. It’s also important to validate the patient’s feelings with a response of understanding or sympathy.
As you know, Nursing is challenging, but incredibly rewarding as well. Effective communication skills improves your patient’s well-being and puts you and your healthcare team on the same page
Article shared from DiversityNursing.com blog. For more information on the website visit DiversityNursing.com
5 Nursing Trends Heading into 2025
In an ever changing career its important to know what may be coming your way. Here's 5 things to look for in theNew Year! The…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
SUMNER COLLEGE STUDENT OF THE MONTH | DECEMBER 2024
Congratulations Kymra for being the December 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Congratulations on your accomplishment!…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Continuing Your Education with a BSN
Many individuals enter the nursing profession driven by a desire to help others. As they gain experience, many seek to advance their careers to provide…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from Sumner College! We are grateful to all of our students for entrusting us with taking their nursing dreams to reality.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Upcoming Info Sessions
Looking for some more information on our programs? Join us for an info session! Our upcoming info sessions are all at 11am, November 26, December…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Why Become a Nurse?
A career in nursing offers one of the most exciting, rewarding, and dynamic paths in the healthcare field. With over 4 million registered nurses in…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Welcome New Class Start November 18!
Happy first day, and welcome, to our newest class starting today, November 18! Thank you for choosing Sumner College to continue your educational career! Dream…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
What Are Clinicals?
If you have been researching nursing schools, you may have seen the word "Clinicals" before but not known what they are. Clinicals are a safe…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Student of the Month | November 2024
Congratulations Olga for being the November 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Olga was inspired to join Sumner College's nursing school after hearing about…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Student of the Month | October 2024
Congratulations Benjamin for being the October 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Benjamin is a compassionate nursing student who learned about Sumner College through…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Thank you, Veterans
Sumner College thanks and values our veterans on this honorable day. If you or someone you know has an interest in continuing education, please see…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing in the 21st Century
21st Century nursing is the glue that holds a patient’s health care journey together. Across the entire patient experience, and wherever there is someone in…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Paying for Nursing School- Scholarships
Sumner College understands that every student’s financial situation is unique. Our financial aid department can provide you with more information about Oregon financial aid options…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
How to Prepare for Nursing School
Nursing school can be intimidating, but here are some helpful tips for you to make the most of your time and studies. As always, feel…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Bend, Oregon, Our New Home!
In a recent article with the Bend Bulletin, our School President Joanna Russell shared how we are enrolling for February 24, 2025 at our newest…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
RN to BSN – Career Upgrade!
Here at Sumner College we offer a program for current Registered Nurses, to further their education in a flexible schooling style and get a Bachelors…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Niche Award!
Exciting news! Sumner Nursing College was recently ranked by Niche, listed as #1 in Best Value Colleges in Oregon, #1 in Best Value Colleges in…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Check Out Our New Campus!
Welcome to our new campus in Bend, Oregon! We are excited to be welcoming the first BSN cohort February 24th, 2025. Stay tuned as we…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Upcoming Info Sessions
On the fence or have questions about starting your education at Sumner College? Check out our upcoming BSN Info Sessions! Available for on-campus in Portland…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
All About TEAS
If you're considering enrolling at Sumner College (or other nursing schools!) you will be required to take the TEAS Exam. This stands for Test of…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing School Study Tips
Nursing school is known to be extremely difficult, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself! NursingWorld.org suggests a few different things to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
$5,000 Education Award Available!
Exciting news! DiversityNursing.com is offering a $5,000 education award, with easy entry and no essays, why not enter for a chance to win $5,000 to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
New Member Bend Chamber of Commerce
Sumner College is proud to share we are new members of the Bend Area Chamber of Commerce. Coming soon our official ribbon cutting and social…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Spirit Week!
Happy Spirit Week! Stop by the Lobby or Front Desk throughout the week to say hi and show some school spirit! Monday: Meal Prep and…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Student of the Month | September 2024
Congratulations Kristina, for being the September 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Kristina completed the LPN program from Sumner College and recently returned to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Virtual Tour: SIM Lab 202
Welcome to Sumner College! Before you head in to our Portland Campus take a virtual tour where you can see our Simulation Lab, Hospital Simulator,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
New Campus Alert!
We are extremely excited to announce the opening of our new additional campus location in Bend, Oregon! Conveniently located just around the corner from Bend's…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
The Heart of Healthcare
Nursing can be described as both an art and science; a heart and a mind. At its heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Labor Day Weekend
Happy Labor Day! We will be closed Monday to enjoy a long weekend!…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Upcoming Class Start Dates
Join us on one of our upcoming start dates for RN's looking to achieve a BSN completion!…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn