Communication is an essential part of nursing. It is truly impossible to be an exceptional nurse without an excellent foundation in communication skills. Learning how to talk to patients in an appropriate manner for their situation is a very crucial part of what it means to communicate as a nurse. Accommodating to meet the needs of the patient in whatever sense of “communication” that may look involves critical thinking and the ability to be adaptive in the field. Beyond interacting with patients alone, collaborating with other professionals on the healthcare team, patients’ families and community members will fall under the responsibilities of effectively communicating as a nurse. Effective, patient-centered care will be best delivered if the nurse shows a strong basis in communicating concisely.
This image perfectly exemplifies the importance of communication, particularly when keeping the goal of delivering patient-centered care in mind. Being a nurse is being an advocate for the patient by understanding the role to interact with other members of the healthcare team. The patient should remain at the center of the team’s care, which is clearly shown in the web of team members above.
