REVIEW PAPER
Professional communication competences of nurses – a review of current practice and educational problems
1
,
1
| 1 | Department of Health Informatics and Statistics, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland; Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, University of Economics and Innovation, Lublin, Poland |
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2013;20(1):183–188
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Background: A dissonance between high ‘technical’ professionalism of nurses and a relatively low level of patient satisfaction with received care is a phenomenon observed in many countries.
Method: Theoretical concept and review of current published studies.
Discussion: Most reviewed studies show that a low level of patient satisfaction occurs in the case of an inadequate interpersonal communication between nurses and patients. Most studies indicate poor effectiveness of shaping communication competences of nurses based on standard education in the area of general psychology and communication knowledge, because this knowledge does not convert itself ‘spontaneously’ into communication competences during occupational activity.
Conclusions: It is necessary to supplement educational programmes for nurses with practical courses in professional interpersonal communication. International experience exchange concerning the shaping of nurses’ communication competences may be limited due to cultural, organizational and systems factors.
REFERENCES (46)
1.
Griffiths J, Speed S, Horne M, Keeley P. ‘A caring professional attitude’: What service users and carers seek in graduate nurses and the challenge for educators. Nurse Educ Today. 2012; 32(2): 121-127.
2.
Sturgeon D. ‘Have a nice day’: consumerism. compassion and health care. Br J Nurs. 2010; 19(16): 1047-1051.
3.
Robinson KL, Watters S. Bridging the communication gap through implementation of a Patient Navigator program. Pa Nurse. 2010; 65(2): 19-22.
4.
Anonymous. Pielęgniarka – profesjonalna asysta (Nurse – Professional assistant). Puls Medycny. Retrieved from: http://www.pulsmedycyny. com.pl/index/archiwum/7012; (access: 2006.05.24) (in Polish).
5.
Vuori H. Patient satisfaction an attribute or indicator of the quality of care? QRB Qual Rev Bull. 1987; 13: 106-108.
6.
Prot K, Pałyska M, Anczewska M, Indulska A, Raduj J. Badanie satysfakcji pacjenta w warunkach opieki środowiskowej. Postepy Psychiatr Neurol. 2005; 14(4): 299-304.
7.
Morreale SP, Spitzberg BH, Barge JK. Human communication: Motivation, knowledge and skills. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Thomson Learning, 2002.
8.
Matthews G, Zeinder M, Roberts RD. Emotional Intelligence: Science and Myth. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2004.
9.
Salovey P, Brackett MA, Mayer JD. Emotional Intelligence: Key Readings on the Mayer and Salovey Model. Port Chester, NY: Dude Publishing, 2007.
10.
Chen RP. Moral imagination in simulation-based communication skills training. Nurs Ethics. 2011; 18(1): 102-111.
11.
Belcher M, Jones LK. Graduate nurses experience of developing trust in the nurse-patient relationship. Contemp Nurse. 2009; 31(2): 142-152.
12.
Tropea S. ‘Therapeutic emplotment’: a new paradigm to explore the interaction between nurses and patients with a long-term illness. J Adv Nurs. 2012; 68(4): 939-947 doi: 10.1111/j.1365- 2648.2011.05847.x.
13.
Kruijver IP, Kerkstra A, Francke AL, et al. Evaluation of communication training programs in nursing care: a review of the literature. Patient Educ Couns. 2000; 39(1): 29–45.
14.
Barth J, Lannen P. Efficacy of communication skills training courses in oncology: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Oncol. 2011; 22(5): 1030-1040.
15.
Sargeant J, MacLeod T, Murray A. An interprofessional approach to teaching communication skills. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2011; 31(4): 265-267. doi: 10.1002/chp.20139.
16.
Chan Z, Kan C, Lee P, Chan I, Lam J. A systematic review of qualitative studies: patients’ experiences of preoperative communication. J Clin Nurs. 2012; 21(5-6): 812-824 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03942.x.
17.
Włoszczak-Szubzda A. Kompetencje komunikacyjne personelu medycznego. Badanie stanu oraz ocena potrzeb komunikacyjnych (Communication competencies of medical personnel. Testing and assessment of communication skills). Lublin, Poland: Medical University of Lublin; 2009 (in Polish).
18.
Włoszczak-Szubzda A, Jarosz MJ. Professional communication competences of nurses. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012; 19(3): 601-607.
19.
Radtke JV, Tate JA, Happ MB. Nurses’ perceptions of communication training in the ICU. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2012; 28(1): 16-25.
20.
Mullan BA, Kothe EJ. Evaluating a nursing communication skills training course: The relationships between self-rated ability, satisfaction, and actual performance. Nurse Educ Pract. 2010; 10(6): 374-378.
21.
Ryan CA, Walshe N, Gaffney R, Shanks A, Burgoyne L, Wiskin CM. Using standardized patients to assess communication skills in medical and nursing students. BMC Med Educ. 2010; 17(10): 24.
22.
McMillan LR, Shannon DM. Psychometric Analysis of the JSPE Nursing Student Version R: Comparison of Senior BSN Students and Medical Students Attitudes toward Empathy in Patient Care. ISRN Nurs. 2011: 726063. Published online 2011 May 11. doi:10.5402/2011/726063.
23.
Ozcan CT, Oflaz F, Sutcu Cicek H. Empathy: the effects of undergraduate nursing education in Turkey. Int Nurs Rev. 2010; 57(4): 493-499 doi: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2010.00832.x.
24.
Aerts E, Fliedner M, Redmond K,Walton A. Defining the scope of haematology nursing practice in Europe. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2010; 14(1): 55-60.
25.
Sheldon LK. An evidence-based communication skills training programme for oncology nurses improves patient-centred communication. enhancing empathy. Reassurance and discussion of psychosocial needs. Evid Based Nurs. 2011; 14: 87-88.
26.
Doyle D, Copeland HL, Bush D, Stein L, Thompson S. A course for nurses to handle difficult communication situations. A randomized controlled trial of impact on self-efficacy and performance. Patient Educ Couns. 2011; 82(1): 100-109.
27.
Kameg K, Howard VM, Clochesy J, Mitchell AM, Suresky JM. The impact of high fidelity human simulation on self-efficacy of communication skills. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2010; 31(5): 315-523.
28.
Kameg K, Mitchell AM, Clochesy J, Howard VM, Suresky J. Communication and human patient simulation in psychiatric nursing. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2009; 30(8): 503-508.
29.
Sleeper JA, Thompson C. The use of hi fidelity simulation to enhance nursing students therapeutic communication skills. Int J Nurs Educ Scholarsh. 2008; 5:Article 42.
30.
Ghazavi Z, Lohrasbi F, Mehrabi T. Effect of communication skill training using group psychoeducation method on the stress level of psychiatry ward nurses. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2010; 15(Suppl 1): 395-400.
31.
Fukui S, Ogawa K, Ohtsuka M, Fukui N. Effects of communication skills training on nurses’ detection of patients’ distress and related factors after cancer diagnosis: a randomized study. Psychooncology. 2009; 18(11): 1156-1164.
32.
Langewitz W, Heydrich L, Nübling M, Szirt L, Weber H, Grossman P. Swiss Cancer League communication skills training programme for oncology nurses: an evaluation. J Adv Nurs. 2010; 66(10): 2266-2277 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05386.x.
33.
Turner J, Clavarino A, Butow P, Yates P, Hargraves M, Connors V, Hausmann S. Enhancing the capacity of oncology nurses to provide supportive care for parents with advanced cancer: evaluation of an educational intervention. Eur J Cancer. 2009; 45(10): 1798-1806.
34.
Shannon SE, Long-Sutehall T, Coombs M. Conversations in end-oflife care: communication tools for critical care practitioners. Nurs Crit Care. 2011; 16(3): 124-130 doi: 10.1111/j.1478-5153.2011.00456.x.
35.
Hales BM, Hawryluck L. An interactive educational workshop to improve end of life communication skills. Contin Educ Health Prof. 2008; 28(4): 241-248.
36.
Brown RF, Bylund CL, Kline N, De La Cruz A, Solan J, Kelvin J, et al. Identifying and responding to depression in adult cancer patients: evaluating the efficacy of a pilot communication skills training program for oncology nurses. Cancer Nurs. 2009; (3): E1-7.
37.
Nørgaard B. Communication with patients and colleagues. Dan Med Bull. 2011; 58(12): B4359.
38.
Liu LM, Guarino AJ, Lopez RP. Family Satisfaction With Care Provided by Nurse Practitioners to Nursing Home Residents With Dementia at the End of Life. Clin Nurs Res. 2012; 21(3): 350-67 doi: 10.1177/1054773811431883.
39.
Eslamian J, Fard SH, Tavakol, K, Yazdani M. The effects of anger management by nursing staff on violence rate against them in the emergency unit. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2010; 15(Suppl 1): 337-342.
40.
Kesten KS. Role-play using SBAR technique to improve observed communication skills in senior nursing students. J Nurs Educ. 2011; 50(2): 79-87 doi: 10.3928/01484834-20101230-02.
41.
Schlegel C, Woermann U, Shaha M, Rethans JJ, van der Vleuten C. Effects of Communication Training on Real Practice Performance: A Role-Play Module Versus a Standardized Patient Module. J Nurs Educ. 2012; 51(1): 16-22 doi: 10.3928/01484834-20111116-02.
42.
Solomon P, Salfi J. Evaluation of an interprofessional education communication skills initiative. Educ Health. (Abingdon) 2011; 24(2): 616.
43.
Bartges M. Pairing students in clinical assignments to develop collaboration and communication skills. Nurse Educ. 2012; 37(1): 17-22.
44.
Emmanuel E, Collins D, Carey M. My face. a window to communication: using creative design in learning. Nurse Educ Today. 2010; 30(8): 720- 725.
45.
Zavertnik JE, Huff TA, Munro CL. Innovative approach to teaching communication skills to nursing students. J Nurs Educ. 2010; 49(2): 65-71 doi: 10.3928/01484834-20090918-6.
46.
Davies CS, Lunn K. The patient’s role in the assessment of students communication skills. Nurse Educ Today. 2009; 29(4): 405-412.
Related articles
