Prepare a 3–4-page report on nurse-patient communication in which you address types of communication, factors that influence the communication experience, and how the patient experience affects health outcomes. Recommend evidence-based strategies to improve nurse-patient communication and explain how the strategies consider patient demographics.

Nursing professionals do not only communicate with others within their organizations—often, they are also the first point of contact with patients. Thus, nursing professionals need superior communication skills to explain procedures and medication instructions, as well as to listen to what patients need to say.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

Competency 2: Describe the concepts, processes, and tools required to conduct comprehensive health assessments for individuals, families, communities, and populations.
Recommend evidence-based strategies to improve nurse-client/patient communication.
Explain how nurse-client/patient communication strategies consider individual demographics.
Competency 3: Explain the internal and external factors that can affect the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations.
Describe the types of communication that occur between nurses and clients/patients.
Explain the factors that influence the communication experience between nurses and clients/patients.
Explain how the client/patient communication experience can impact health care outcomes.
Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with the expectations of a nursing professional.
Write content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
Correctly format citations and references using current APA style.
Context

Clark and Paraska (2014) suggest that understanding how people communicate is the first step in learning how to teach patients more effective methods of listening, self-awareness, and self-expression—and also in identifying barriers in communication. The process of communication can be difficult, as we can interpret meaning based on a variety of hidden messages—some conscious and intentional—some not.

Assessment Instructions

Imagine that, in an effort to reduce the number of patient complaints about nursing staff, organizational leadership has asked your department to prepare some preliminary research on a number of different topics. Your topic is patient communication, such as the following:

The types of communication that take place between nurses and patients.
The factors that can influence both positive and negative experiences.
How the experience can impact health care outcomes.
Strategies that can improve the communication between nurses and patients.