Riverbend City: Communications Issue Mission, Coursework Example

Introduction

The nurse leader must demonstrate strong and effective communication skills and be able to pass communication knowledge down to other persons in an effective manner. This requires a high level of knowledge and finesse regarding communication in an effort to stimulate communication that will improve performance outcomes. Most importantly, it is necessary to develop tools and resources that will improve communication and minimize errors or other mishaps that often impact individuals, such as the errors committed by Jessica Jameson that required further investigation because they were a breach of confidentiality. These circumstances reflect a necessity for nurses to address communication and the type of information that can be shared versus that which cannot be shared in a public forum. This is an important reminder of the issues that often contribute to nursing communication challenges, along with the development of training tools that will support a nurse’s ability to be effective in communicating with other nurses and in determining what to and what not to say to others.

Analysis

A key component of professional nursing practice is to demonstrate strong and professional communication skills at all times and to recognize the importance of protecting patients and their privacy in this manner. Therefore, nurses must be able to exhibit a high level of professionalism and strength in their communication efforts and to recognize the importance of developing strategies that will improve nursing practice on different levels (Bainbridge, Nasmith, Orchard, & Wood, 2010). In this context, nurses must be able to share their ideas with others but also be able to refrain from sharing other information that could compromise a patient’s health and privacy in any way (Bainbridge et.al, 2010). Collaborative efforts require nurses to share ideas regarding how to communicate effectively and to determine methods that might be effective in achieving professional growth through training and education to improve communication among nurses and other colleagues (Bainbridge et.al, 2010).

Nurse leaders must be able to empower other nurses and enable them to take steps independently to carve their own niche and to contribute actively to the profession and improve their own careers (Linnen, 2012). This process requires a high level of finesse and an effective understanding of how communication is achieved in a professional context, using the tools and resources that are available to support the growth and development of the practice environment, while also protecting patients in the process (Linnen, 2012). From this perspective, nurses must be able to understand why communication is so important and how they might effectively contribute to the growth of communication in order to accomplish the chosen objectives and in protecting patients from unnecessary breaches of data or other harm (Linnen, 2012).

Nurses must also communicate effectively on other levels to improve patient safety and to recognize the value of team-based approaches to communication in order to meet the needs of patients and to provide them with the resources that are necessary to address long-term success and achievement within the field (Roberts et al. 2014). In particular, it is important to consider the value of team communication and behavioral discussions as a means of improving nurses’ performance and in demonstrating the value of nurses’ contributions to communication and how they impact results and the care that patients receive (Roberts et.al, 2014).  It is expected that nurses will demonstrate their growth and developed through the creation of new ideas and approaches that will facilitate their ability to communicate and share their knowledge in a professional manner that supports their maturity and professional demeanor (Roberts et.al, 2014).

Nursing leaders must be able to learn from prior errors and to be able to actively contribute to the workplace environment through their actions, along with other activities that may support their professional growth. Educational opportunities must be relevant and timely in supporting the ability of nurses to learn and to accept new ideas and approaches to improve their practice environments (Abraham, 2011). Most importantly, nurses must be able to demonstrate their growth and ability to learn from education and to adapt key principles within the workplace environment to support long-term success (Abraham, 2011). Nurse leaders must provide examples to support the development of staff nurses to ensure that they act professionally at all times and do not share information that is not meant to be shared with unauthorized persons (Abraham, 2011). Organizations must provide the education and training that is required to provide nurses with the foundation that is necessary to support their growth and development over time (Abraham, 2011). Under these conditions, it is likely that nurses will be able to contribute in a positive manner to the work environment and to be proactive in learning how to communicate with others in a manner that is beneficial to their needs and of the expectations set forth by the nursing unit (Abraham, 2011).

Conclusion                                                                            

Nurses must be accountable for their actions and the type of communication in which they participate in the workplace environment. This is achieved through an understanding of allowable forms of communication and other types that are not permitted in the workplace, such as those that compromise patient privacy and/or violate laws. Therefore, nurses must be able to recognize their needs and to understand how to best communicate to achieve the needs and expectations of the nursing unit. It is important for nurses at all levels to obtain adequate education and training regarding communication in order to accomplish the objectives set forth, but to also recognize the differences between communication that is right and that which is wrong and when to take actions as necessary.

References

Abraham, P. J. (2011). Developing nurse leaders: a program enhancing staff nurse leadership skills and professionalism. Nursing administration quarterly, 35(4), 306-312.

Bainbridge, L., Nasmith, L., Orchard, C., & Wood, V. (2010). Competencies for                                                interprofessional collaboration. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 24(1), 6-11.

Daniel Linnen, M. S. (2012). Professional Growth: Making a case for nurse empowerment. Diabetes.

Roberts, N. K., Williams, R. G., Schwind, C. J., Sutyak, J. A., McDowell, C., Griffen, D., … & Wetter, N. (2014). The impact of brief team communication, leadership and team behavior training on ad hoc team performance in trauma care settings. The American Journal of Surgery, 207(2), 170-178.