Communication Skills for Nursing

By
Claire Boyd and Janet Dare

Course Outline

This book is designed to assist the student healthcare worker in the skill of communication, a fundamental component of effective nursing care. It is designed to give a quick, snappy over view of communication theories, skills and techniques. The book incorporates many exercises to check understanding, and is done in a simple-to follow step-by-step approach. Chapters end with quizzes to relate everything learned to practice.

Special Features

  • Incorporates quotes and tips from real-life students
  • Clear, straightforward and jargon-free
  • Exercises and self-test activities based on real-life nursing situations
  • Ties in with the NMC standards for pre-registration education and the Essential Skills Clusters
  • Incorporates examples from different sectors of nursing, including adult, child and midwifery

About Authors

Claire Boyd is a Practice Development Trainer at North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.

Janet Dare is a Practice Development Teacher at North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.


Learning Objectives

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

  1. Describe the linear model of communication.
  2. Describe the interactive model of communication.
  3. Describe the transaction model of communication.
  4. State the aim of transactional analysis.
  5. Describe the adult ego.
  6. Compare the three kinds of transactions.
  7. Discuss the four main types of communication.
  8. Describe communication methods for deaf blindness.
  9. List the four main types of handover.
  10. Describe the CUBAN approach.
  11. Describe the customer/patient.
  12. Discuss first impressions.
  13. Define interpersonal skills.
  14. Describe the six interpersonal skills.
  15. State how to develop several interpersonal skills.
  16. Define efficient and effective.
  17. Describe the multidisciplinary team.
  18. List several communication barriers.
  19. Define a muddled message.
  20. Discuss communication barriers with people with disabilities.
  21. Define active listening.
  22. List the three benefits of active listening.
  23. Define the human factor.
  24. List several statements that can help you increase awareness of human factors in health care.
  25. Define baseline observations.
  26. Discuss the admission process.
  27. Define activities of daily living and give examples.
  28. Discuss the nursing process.
  29. Discuss infection control issues.
  30. Define a vulnerable adult according to Part L-Safeguarding Issues.
  31. State the purpose of SBAR.
  32. State what each letter represents in SBAR and how the tool was developed.
  33. Compare stuporous and lethargic.
  34. Describe each of the steps of SBAR.
  35. Describe the Bristol Observation Chart.
  36. Describe the SBAR prompt sheet
  37. Describe the SBAR communication tool
  38. Discuss the legal issues of charting.
  39. Define root cause analysis.
  40. Describe the Checklist Tool for Falls
  41. Describe the Fall Risk Assessment Tool
  42. Describe the Bedrail Risk Assessment.
  43. Describe the Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Tool.
  44. Discuss the four categories for “SKIN bundle for pressure ulcer prevention.”
  45. Describe the complaints procedure.
  46. State the main health complaints according to the pie graph in Figure 12.1.
  47. Describe the Friends and Family Test.
  48. Describe how to handle compliments.
  49. Discuss your response to scenario seven regarding the use of Facebook and actually naming a certain person.
  50. Discuss the six Cs for the culture of compassionate care.
  51. Describe the Francis Report.

Course Contents

  1. Models of Communication
  2. Transactional Analysis
  3. Methods of Communication
  4. Presenting Yourself and Your Organization
  5. Interpersonal Skills
  6. Team Work and the Multidisciplinary Team
  7. Communication Barriers
  8. Active Listening
  9. Admitting Patients
  10. Situation, Background, Assessment, Response (SBAR)
  11. Documentation
  12. Managing Criticism and Compliments
  13. Communication Scenarios
  14. Care and Compassion in Nursing