Oral and written communication in nursing practice

Nursing Communications

ATTN: Professor

RE: How Oral and Written Communication is Used in Nursing

Dear Sir:

My technology involves helping people in a healthcare setting as a nurse. I help people by providing them with healthcare assistance and guidance in the way of oral communications, physical help and emotional assistance (Fitzgerald, 2001). I also provide guidance to family members in need of support when associated with the patients I work with. In the current market there is a shortage of nursing staff, so the demand is high for qualified nurses with strong business communications skills (Fitzgerald, 2001). I will use oral and written communication in many ways in the nursing field, including when participating in collaborative efforts between myself and the patients I work with, and the physicians and other healthcare personnel I must associate with. Oral communication skills are helpful for building rapport (Locker, 2006) in a nursing setting. Written communication skills are important for documenting information and notes regarding one's interactions with the patient, physicians, family and other pertinent information.

While I do not have any experience working as a nurse, I have always had strong writing skills. Past instructors including Dr. Macioci stated that I was, "An exceptional English Student" suggesting I am quite well-versed in the language. By learning how to combine my experience and talent with the written word with the skills I learn in oral communication, I will be able to build rapport with the people I work with and write in a way that is understandable, clear and concise, which will be of utmost importance to the physicians I work with in the field (Sass, 2000; Johnstone, 1999).

Nursing is a field that is essential in healthcare. Nurses work one-on-one with doctors, patients and other administrative staff to ensure the safety and livelihood of patients and other people they may provide support for.

The skills that I have learned this quarter most important to my technology include learning how to write memos, how to write resumes and follow-up letters, and how to effectively communicate across cultures. My attitude has changed resulting from the information I learned about business communications quite dramatically. Business communication in my opinion was always something that was important to people working as managers or administrators, but I never fully understood how critical business communication is to all people regardless of the field they work in. The components of business communication most important to my field include learning how to translate one's thoughts into oral and written communication in multiple forms.