As everyone knows, effective communication has always been a big issue in healthcare, especially between nurses, aides, etc. My hospital is starting to do different inservices on effective communication, the "proper" way to speak with someone, address an issue and such.
I'm all for finding a way to reduce the tension, drama, fighting that goes on. But I'm also a firm believer in it's not what you say, but how you say it. For example... We have one nurse who always says "I appreciate" whenever having a conversation of differing opinions. The problem is, it comes of as extremely condescending. I don't think that putting a phrase such as that in the front of your sentence makes things better, if one doesn't change the tone as well.
Anyone else's hospitals working on improving communication? Have you found it makes any difference?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
where i work, communication classes are used as a punishment for those who are felt by management to be "too direct." being direct is seen to be a liability in nursing, or at least at this particular institution. they would rather have you say "please, dr. jones, don't shock that "rhythm" as it appears to me to be just artifact. take a look at his arterial line tracing," than "hold it! that's artifact." unfortunately by the time you've been indirect, dr. jones has already shocked the artifact, and the patient is moaning in pain.
some people are direct communicators and others aren't. i'd rather deal with someone who says what they mean and mean what they say than someone who always has to preface and qualify to the point of losing the meaning. apparently, i'm in the minority. every single person in the communication class i was sent to was there because they were too direct. i was sent for the above scenerio, because i "made dr. jones cry." nevermind that she caused unnecessary pain (and risk) to the patient, i was the one who was wrong.
i sincerely wish that instead of sending the direct communicators to be "fixed", we sent everyone who cannot seem to deal with direct communication and cries when given feedback that is anything but the most glowing.
Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
I don't mind the classes and seminars, and I do learn new things. What I've found is that the people who have the most difficulty with communication change the least, and the people who already do a decent job of it are most likely to absorb it and implement improvements.
I think I know the tone you are talking about nursemandalyn. I've always called it teacher-speak, because that is where I first heard it, and it is just so annoying. Normally full of cookbook phrases delivered in a tone both prissy and condescending.
"Um, I have a concern". . ."I'd like to dialogue. ." I feel really guilty that this annoys me so much, because I guess it's better than being asked "what the hell are you doing!?!" but only marginally.
I agree with what you said that it is usually the ones who really need it the most are usually the ones least likely to try. I do really like the nurse who I was referring to, she is good to work with. She helps out others, answers questions, etc. It's just when she thinks she is right about something, she will "argue" but go about it in a way that she tries to make it like she isn't. I just take her with a grain of salt, lol. Try to realize she may not even know the tone she is using.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I think you're right. Most people don't realize what their vocal quality is saying to other people. Kind of a different issue, but I have a co-worker who tends to raise the volume as she talks, and speaks in short sentences that border on rude. One day when this was happening, I blurted out, "please stop yelling at me!"
Right away she got all flustered and began to apologize profusely-- she literally did not know she was doing it, and became very concerned about how I reacted, wanting to make sure I knew she didn't intend to offend me.
If these classes were able to offer someone non-threatening feedback from co-workers regarding their perceptions-- it could be valuable, but most tend to be very generic, so that those with issues like that don't identify with it.
Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
I agree with whoever said that the classes are a huge waste of time, especially the one that lasted 3-8 days! Give me a break, and no I'm not a horrible communicator. I've come to grips with my flaws, because yes, we all have them...but I'm one of those very direct people and I too, prefer a "what the hell is wrong with you", if you have a problem/question/issue with something that I'm doing, please come to me directly and ask me, don't skirt around it, don't go to someone else and talk about it, and don't send messages around the entire unit everyone starts pointing fingers and nobody has any idea about what is really going on. We are all adults and whether or not we all communicate in a "positive" way, we do all communicate, and the DIFFERENT ways that we accomplish that, is what makes the world go round!
It would be nice if they would take some of that thousands and thousands of dollars wasted on generic put you to sleep classes, and actually invest it in proper working equipment, or *gasp* adequate staffing:rolleyes:
canoehead, BSN, RN
6,909 Posts
Excellent statement. I have to remind myself every day that we have to do the best we can with what we have.