How Communication Builds Relationships in Nursing

Communication in Nursing

Communication is absolutely a must in nursing when it comes to promoting a safety culture, because communication is the means by which information is shared and gathered. Breakdowns in communication mean breakdowns in continuity of care, quality of care, leadership, oversight, management, and protocol. Patients’ needs depend upon healthcare providers being informed, and communication is what makes that all possible. Failures to communicate can be perceived as negligence on the part of providers and errors or omissions in care can be a result of such failures (Humphrey et al., 2022).

There are many strategies that nurses can use to promote communication. The first and perhaps most important is to engage in active listening. Active listening means the nurse is present in the situation, hearing what is said and understanding it so that it can be relayed when necessary. There is in fact a structured communication approach: Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR), which is a standardized method for nurses to communicate (Noh & Park, 2022).

Building good relationships with patients and families starts with conveying empathy to them (Babaii et al., 2021). Nurses should have social and emotional intelligence skills, along with cultural competence. These skills help them to understand, be open to, appreciate, show regard for, and respect the values and concerns of patients and families. Nurses should be able to put themselves in the shoes of their patients and their families so that they can know what they are going through and how valuable some social and emotional support can be. Open and transparent communication can help to build trust and give patients and their families the attention they want and deserve. Communication should be bolstered by honesty and respect at all times to strengthen relationships.