On a scale of 1-10, please rate your communication effectiveness and explain why.
Poor communication is one of the leading reasons for medical malpractice. Good nursing care depends on effective communication that is prompt, direct, and respectful. Communication can be verbal and non-verbal such as body language, facial expressions, gesturing, and even the distance between you and your patients. If the distance between you and your patient is too close or too far, communication can break down. A patient may miss the message if you are talking across the room or become frightened or intimidated if you have breached their personal space. The best answer is authentic and introspective, which leads to an action plan for improvement. Remember, your answers are a real-time demonstration of your communication skills.
"I believe that nurses have to be able to relay information to patients in a way that they understand and retain in oral and written forms. I work very hard to listen to understand and ask for feedback from coworkers and patients on their perception of what they heard. I look at the situation quickly to see what obstacles might influence the outcome, like environmental noise, culture, or emotions. People don't retain information when they are in heightened emotional states. I try to find common ground first so that communication can be direct and effective. I listen first and then try to be solution focused if there is a problem. I find it helps when information is written down for patients, in addition to giving clear verbal directions. Pairing those together leads to better outcomes, in my opinion."
"I would rate my communication effectiveness an 8 out of 10. When I listen to someone, I summarize their points and repeat them to ensure I understand their questions or statements. If I'm speaking to someone in person, I watch for clues that they are taking in what I'm saying. Whether speaking to someone in person or over the phone, I check with them to make sure they've understood what I've said, and I ask if they have any questions. In my written communication, I try to be thorough but concise."
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