Tabbner’s Nursing Care: Theory and Practice, Research Paper Example

Communication is a complex and multidimensional process through which thoughts, ideas, knowledge, or feelings and values are shared and also interpreted (Funnel R.  2004) .Communication process involves sending and receiving of a message which may be non-verbal or verbal.  The  basic  principles  of communication  apply  whether it involves  animals ,humans or  other  forms of  life,  or  combinations  of  these. The complex process involves a  message, a sender,  channel ,receiver, feedback and variables or influences. The sender is the person who initiates the process while the receiver is the participant to whom the message is conveyed however their roles interchange during the process as the message is transmitted and feedback received. The information (message) is conveyed through a channel for example auditory, visual, olfactory and tactical routes. Feedback is also an important component in the process of communication because it helps the sender to know whether the meaning of the meaning of the message passed has been perceived as intended.

In the process of communication, there are several variables that influence message transmission by the sender, the route of conveying the message, and the perception of the message by the recipient. They include environmental setting, emotions, values and beliefs, past experience, knowledge difference, pressure of time, relationships the channels of communication, physical discomfort and knowledge difference.

The environmental setting in which the communication takes place for example a noise and other distractions  can affect concentration and hence the listener may miss vital words and consequently the meaning of the whole sentence while on the other hand a conducive environment for example quiet place, a place with privacy among other factors enhances effective communication. Knowledge difference also influences communication as it becomes difficult for people with different level of knowledge to communicate effectively and especially when the recipient has less knowledge than the sender decoding may be completely affected hence the meaning of the message  is lost. Past experience has also a powerful effect on the recipients perception of the message for example if a patient had a painful and traumatic experience in an hospital they may lose trust in message from the physicians that they will manage pain after a procedure like surgery. Emotions affect the relationship between people and hence how they communicate; recipient maybe distracted from listening of the mannerisms of the sender are annoying for example consistent clearing of the throat or coughing may irritate the listener and cause them to lose concentration. In addition if emotional distance is cultivated in an interpersonal interaction, deep sharing of the meaning may be hampered and even animosity may be aroused. Physical discomfort makes communication less effective for instance the sender or recipient or both are having fatigue, pain or other physical discomfort concentration is impaired. The type and quality of relationship between the people involved affects the quality of communication; total and honest communication occurs only when emotions, judgments and ideas are revealed without reprisal, humiliation, rejection or fear. The route of relaying a message also affects communication for example oral route of communication may not be the best means of communication long and involving messages and therefore written is preferable .the meaning of a message can be construed if inappropriate channel is used .In addition pressure of time and hence the urge to speed the communication may leave the recipient without understanding fully and therefore for effective communication a humble time should be set aside (Funnel R.  2004).

Good communication is a complex and sometimes subtle human process of sending and receiving meaningful messages. The success of this process  is depend end on the clear connections  established between the sender’s  attitudes, beliefs , style,  perspective and  the  message content ; non- verbal cues, the means selected for conveying the message; and the receiver’s beliefs, attitudes and perspective. Hence, an effective communicator must develop all elements of this process.  For administrators to be effective communicators they must have powerful encoding of the message and use positive language towards whom with which they work with .They must also ensure that they choose the best channels of conveying their message, choose a conducive environment for example when holding meetings a quiet and private room and also clarity of the language they use should be considered. For effective communication administrators also must encourage active listening in order to foster mutual understanding ,they should also invest time and self  for the sake of their listeners , be committed to build a climate of trust and in  building and honoring their relationship with the listeners, provide acceptance, affirmation and enhance personal relationships (West R. 2009).

Some strongest influence on the way messages are passed and perceived are values and beliefs held by both the sender and the recipient and the attitude they have towards one another. The values held by the sender or receiver of information greatly affects the fidelity of the message being transmitted or the message received. This is because the values and beliefs which in most cases are lie outside conscious awareness link with attitudes towards one another and hence may lead to alteration of the information being conveyed ( stein-parbury J. 2002)

References

Funnel R. (2004).Tabbner’s Nursing Care: Theory and Practice. Wellington: Victoria University press.

West R. (2009) .Interpersonal communication. Athens: Ohio University press.

Stein-Parbury  J. (2002). Patient and Person: Interpersonal skills in Nursing. Philadelphia: Dorrance publishing company.