Clinical Nursing Practice Problem
One of the most important issues that nurses face during practice is communication with patients. When people are in the hospital, it is essential for them to feel connected with other people and to understand that someone will take care of them. Thanks to this, they feel better and, therefore, their mood and general condition improve (Silverman et al., 2016). At the same time, people with whom nurses talk exclusively about the treatment process may feel worse. This is especially vital for minors under the age of 21, as they are sensitive to the environment and more difficult to go through treatment. Thus, patient and friendly communication with these people can positively affect their health and the speed of their recovery.
It is also essential to state that a lack of communication can cause severe inconveniences and troubles in the medication process. Vermeir et al. (2015) assume that “poor communication often causes several types of delays, such as in consultation response or acceptance of a referral, in diagnoses and treatment” (p. 2964). As a result, the treatment may not be as effective as it could. Therefore, communication is one of the vital aspects of medicine.
PICOT Elements
- P- (patient population/patients of interest): young hospital patients
- I- (Intervention): attentive and constant communication
- C- (Comparison): talking to these people only about the medication process
- O- (Measurable outcome): speed of recovery
- T- (Time frame in months): 12 months
Evidence Retrieval Process and Summary
It is crucial to communicate with patients during the whole process of treatment. According to the study by Chichirez and Purcărea (2019), “communication is a fundamental clinical skill that, if performed competently and efficiently, facilitates the establishment of a relationship of trust between the medical staff and the patient-customer, a truly therapeutic alliance” (p. 120). This means that good relationships between patients and doctors or nurses have a positive effect on the mood of people undergoing treatment. Moreover, Chichirez and Purcărea (2019) state that communication in medical institutions is a process of transmitting and receiving information, which is especially important in this area. Thus, the more patients trust a medical professional, the more openly they talk about their problems. This helps to find out more details about the disease and offer better and more suitable treatment. Therefore, this research is relevant for my paper, since the importance of communication is confirmed by scientists.
Implications of the Evidence
Communication between medical workers and visitors to medical institutions consists of various details. This includes, for instance, eye contact, physical touch, conversation style, level of spatial proximity, and other aspects (Chichirez & Purcărea, 2019). Nurses should consider each of these to create the most comfortable conditions for patients. Thanks to this, being in hospitals or clinics and communicating with medical workers will be as pleasant as possible. This is especially important because being in these institutions is usually associated with discomfort and negative emotions.
Despite this, medical workers should not build too close relationships with patients. This can lead to excessive attachment and adversely affect the mood of patients. Thus, it is necessary to develop certain norms and standards for communicating with patients. Their presence will make the process of treatment and recovery comfortable and fast. This is why the nursing evidence-based practice committee should pay special attention to this issue.
References
Chichirez, C. M., & Purcărea, V. L. (2018). Interpersonal communication in healthcare. Journal of medicine and life, 11(2), 119–122.
Silverman, J., Kurtz, S., & Draper, J. (2016). Skills for communicating with patients. CRC Press.
Vermeir, P., Vandijk, D., Degroote, S., Peleman, R., Verhaeghe, R., Mortier, E., Vogelaers, D. (2015). Communication in healthcare: A narrative review of the literature and practical recommendations. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 69(11), 1257-1267.