Communication And The Nursing Profession - 1136 Words

Communication is integral to the nursing profession as explained in the two journals reviewed for this paper. In simple terms, communication is the transfer of knowledge and information. It is the exchange of ideas and part of human’s social nature. As such, the subject implies its importance yet as Chaffee highlights it remains to be a challenge for health professionals. Nurses are not adequately represented in the media. This perpetuates the problem as nurses are unable to deliver health information effectively. More importantly, there is a lack of health communications as a subject in nursing programs. With a curricula lacking in training nurses to develop advanced communication skills and media expertise, nurses are poorly equipped in†¦show more content†¦It applies to both verbal and non-verbal means of communicating with a wide ranging scope from diseases prevention to health care. As such, communication as examined by the author is not only between nurse and pa tient but also nurse and the health environment. The capability of nurses to influence high profile topics e.g. health policy and issues can be addressed with millions of registered nurses therefore their positive impact can be largely beneficial given they are equipped with proper communication skills. Chaffee thus advocates integrating health communications into nursing curriculums through a realistic summarization of current practices. Schools can include elective and certificate programs that would increase communication skills. Nurses need to have a strong foundation on the conceptual frameworks for health communication in order to succeed. Further training should be given in health journalism, writing, and reporting; health information in the media; media strategies for nurses; ethical issues in health communications; technology in health communications, and health behavior and health communication. Health and advocate groups e.g. American Nurses Association can also participa te by encouraging increased nurse community interactions. As such, health institutions alongside with nursing schools can establish an environment wherein communication is placed in high importance other than technical skills (2000). Significantly, nurses with