communication and its importance in nursing

COMMUNICATION

BY:SARATU GARBA ABDULLAHIMSc. NURSINNG 2nd YEAR

Communication is the basic element of human interactions that allows

people to establish, maintain and improve contacts with others.

Nursing is a communicative intervention and is founded on effective communication.

The word communication originates from ‘communis’, a Greek word, meaning ‘to make common’.

It is the transmission and receiving information, feelings and or attitudes with the overall purpose of having understood producing a response.

INTRODUCTION

"Communication is a means of persuasion to influence the

other so that the desired effect is achieved.'Aristotle

Communication is “a process by which two or more people exchange ideas, facts, feelings or impressions in ways that each gains a ‘common understanding’ of meaning, intent and use of a message.” Paul Leagens

DEFINITION

It has the following main components:

1. Sender (source)

2. Message (content)

3. Channel (s) (medium)

4. Receiver (audience)

5. Feedback (effect)

THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS

1. Content (what type of things are communicated)

2. Source (by whom)

3. Form (in which form)

4. Channel (through which medium)

5. Destination/Receiver (to whom)

MAJOR DIMENSIONS OF COMMUNICATION

The sender (communicator) is the originator of the

message.

Sender formulates, encodes and transmits the information which he/she wants to communicate.

The impact of the message will depend on sender's communication skill, social status (authority), knowledge, attitude and prestige in the community.

1. SENDER

A message is the information/desired behaviour in

physical form which the communicator transmits to his audience to receive, understand, accept and act upon.

The message may be in the form of words, pictures or signs.

Components of message are:

2. MESSAGE

o Message code-any group of symbols that can be structured

in a way that is meaningful to same person, eg., language.

o Message contentthe material in the message i.e., selected by the source to express his purpose.

o Message treatmenti.e, decisions which the communication source makes in selecting, arranging both codes and contents.

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By channel is implied the “physical bridge” or the media of

communication between sender and the receiver.

Channels can be:

o Interpersonal (face to face communication) may be verbal or non-verbal, or

o Mass media TV, radio, printed media etc.

Every channel of communication has its advantages and limitations.

The proper selection and use of channels results in successful communication.

3. CHANNEL

Who receives messages from the sender, decoding,

interprets the meaning and giving feedback.

4. RECIEVER

It is the flow of information from receiver to the sender,

the reaction to the message.

5. FEEDBACK

Model 1 Communication can be described also as

processes of information transmission governed by three levels of semiotic rules

1. Syntactic (formal properties of signs and symbols)

2. Pragmatic (concerned with the relations between signs/expressions and their users) and

3. Ssemantic (study of relationships between signs and symbols and what they represent).

THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Model 2 Communication is information or content (e.g. a

message in natural language) is sent in some form (as spoken language) from a sender/encoder to a destination/receiver/decoder.

Model 3 Theories of co-regulation describe communication as a creative and dynamic continuous process, rather than a discrete exchange of information.

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One-way Communiaction (didactic): The flow of

communication is “one-way” from the communicator to the receiver. Eg. Lecture method.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

Two-way Communiaction (Socratic): Both sender and

receiver take part.

o The process of learning is active and democratic.

o It is more likely to influence behaviour than one-way communication

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Verbal communication

Non-verbal communication

MODE OF COMMUNICATION

Communication should have objective and purpose.

Should be appropriate to situation.

Systematic analysis of the message, i.e., the idea, the thought to be communicated, so that one is clear about it.

Selection and determination of appropriate language and medium of communication according to its purpose.

PRINCIPLES

Organizational climate, including appropriate timing and physical

setting to convey the desired meaning of the communication.

Consultation with others for planning of communication; involves special preparation.

Message should convey something of value to the receiver in the light of his needs and interests.

The communication action following a communication is important in effective communication as this speaks more than his/her words.

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The sender has to understand the receivers attitude and

reaction by careful, alert and proper listening to ensure that the desired meaning of the message has been comprehended by the receiver.

Credibility is very important.

Communication programme should make use of existing facilities to the great extent possible and should avoid challenging them unnecessarily.

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Perceptions

Values

Emotions

Socio-cultural background

Knowledge

Role and relationships

Environment

Space and territoriality

FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMUNICATION

Physical/environmental barriers

Personal barriers

Physiological barriers

Psychological barriers

Cultural barriers

Background barriers

BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION

A critical component of nursing practice

Good communication

o Generate trust between nurse and clients.

o   Provides professional satisfaction.

o  Is a means for bringing about change, i.e. nurse listens, speaks and acts to negotiate changes that promotes client’s well-being.

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION IN NURSING

o  Is the foundation of the relationship between the nurse and

other members of the health team.

o  Helps to promote managerial efficiency.

o  Provides basis for leadership action.

o  Provides means of co-ordination.

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Communication is really an important aspect of our life.

Every one communicate with others but for effective, productive and interesting communication, proper communication skill has to be developed.

CONCLUSION