A nurse leader’s day is filled with communication—with patients, families, colleagues, supervisors, and so on.
Consider three or four distinct points in time during a specific day spent working in a health care environment. Consider the following for each point in time: Who did you interact with? Which modes of communication did you employ? What topics were discussed—did they appear to be lighthearted or sensitive? Is it simple or complicated? How would you characterize the tempo of your interactions and your work?

When these questions are considered, it becomes clear that communication can be quite complex, with many layers of meaning that shape the experience for everyone involved. How might this understanding help you understand instances of ineffective communication when they occur?

To get ready:

Examine the material in Chapter 19 of the course text, as well as the assigned articles.
Consider an instance of ineffective communication within your organization or another health care setting. Examine this incident through the communication process outlined in Figure 19.1 of the course text.
What impediments played a role in this incident? What other factors could have influenced this situation?
Consider what could have been done to prevent or address the ineffective communication using the information presented in the other Learning Resources. Why do you believe employing these strategies would have resulted in a better outcome(s)?
By the third day
Post a synopsis of an incident involving poor communication. Describe the communication challenges and other factors that contributed to the incident. Propose one or more strategies that could have been used to achieve a better result. Make sure to mention aspects of the communication process.