Communication (Part II)

Communication (Part II)

• Communication is typically carried out through two interdependent forms: verbal and nonverbal.
• Verbal communication involves the use of words, sentences, and language.
• Nonverbal communication uses body language, facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, and objects.
• Both verbal and nonverbal communication are often used simultaneously to improve comprehension, especially when language barriers or hearing impairments exist.
• Nonverbal cues can accompany or replace verbal information for better understanding. This works in situations like those with language barriers, deafness, or psychological problems.

Forms of Communication

• Verbal Communication: Using words, oral or written.
• Non-verbal Communication: Absence of words, expressed through body language, gestures, facial expressions, silence, space, touch, and smell.

Medium of Communication

• Verbal: Uses words, includes oral and written communication.
• Nonverbal: No words, expressed through body movements, gestures, facial expressions, and other cues.

Consciousness of the message sent

• Verbal: Messages are exchanged consciously.
• Nonverbal: Nonverbal body cues may be conscious or unconscious, often accompanied by verbal communication.

Direct and indirect message

• Verbal: Verbal messages are straightforward and easy to decode due to the use of words.
• Nonverbal: Nonverbal cues alone may not precisely convey the intended meaning.

Decoding the message

• Verbal: Verbal content is relatively easy to decode.
• Nonverbal: Decoding nonverbal cues (gestures, facial expressions) can be complex, as each cue may hold various meanings.

Mode of communication

• Verbal: Occurs in written and oral formats. Includes written messages (emails, letters, texts) and oral communication (speech, discussion).
• Nonverbal: Uses various modes. These include visual, auditory, proximity (closeness), and gestural cues.

Time Consumption

• Verbal: Sharing information verbally is generally quicker than using nonverbal cues.
• Nonverbal: Nonverbal communication takes longer as interpretations are often multifaceted and require additional details from the situation and context.

Physical Presence

• Verbal: Technology allows for instantaneous global verbal communication, transcending time and space limitations.
• Nonverbal: Nonverbal communication largely requires physical presence, though technology (video conferencing) partially addresses this.

Methods of Nonverbal Communication

• Body Behaviors: Posture, gestures, and gait are indicators of a person's self-image, mood, and health. Open postures signal openness, while closed postures may suggest defensiveness.
• Gestures: Emphasize and clarify verbal communication, or give signs without words, crucial in diverse language groups and those with communication challenges (like deaf individuals).
• Gait: A person's walk can reveal mood, health conditions, or feelings. For example, a slow walk might indicate sadness, anxiety, or pain.
• Facial expressions: Often reveal emotions and attitudes behind verbal communication. A combination of facial, body, and speech expressions should be understood together. Frowning may signify disagreement, while smiling may indicate agreement.
• Eye contact: Shows respect, listening, and willingness for continued conversation. Excessive eye contact can feel uncomfortable, while less or no eye contact may indicate disinterest or anxiety.
• Appearance: Style of dress, grooming, and overall appearance reflect social status, economic standing, culture, religion, and self-image.
• Paralanguage: Includes vocalizations other than words, such as sighs, moans, or cries; or even tone of voice, pitch and volume. Silence itself can hold a nonverbal message conveying comprehension, anger, or even disapproval.

Methods of Communication

• Intra-personal Communication: Takes place within a person, involving thoughts, emotions, and beliefs.
• Inter-personal Communication: Interaction between two or more people. Criteria: simultaneous presence in the same place and time
• Mass Communication: Transmitting messages to a large audience (e.g., through broadcast media or print media.)

Barriers to effective communication

• Ineffective Techniques: Nurse's failure to appropriately use therapeutic communication tools; inadequate knowledge, or experience.
• Anxiety: Anxiety affects perceptions. Use of defense mechanisms (like denial, projection) reduces understanding and creates issues with communication
• Attitudes: Negative or uncaring attitudes can distort communication.
• Gaps between Nurse and Client: Differences in culture, socioeconomic status, language, etc. hinder understanding and effective communication.
• Resistance: Behaviors that hinder the communication flow, often due to anxiety (procrastination, shifting the topic, interrupting).
• Sensory Barriers: Sensory limitations (sight, hearing, etc.) might necessitate extra skills in communication..
• Failure to Address Concerns/Needs: Inadequate assessment, lack of knowledge, or confusion can hinder effective communication.
• Setting: Environment greatly impacts the communication setting which could be from noise, lighting to temperature and physical distance.

Characteristics of Successful Communication

• Clear Message: The sender delivers clear and concise information.
• Appropriate Feedback: Feedback is provided appropriately concerning the message both in a timely manner and the appropriate place.
• Matching Verbal and Nonverbal: Verbal and nonverbal messages complement and reinforce each other.
• Purposeful Communication: Communicating with a clear objective.
• Establishing an Appropriate Climate: Creating a conducive environment that prioritizes privacy and confidentiality.

Therapeutic Techniques for Nurse-Client Relationships

• Focusing on Client Needs: Prioritizing the client's needs in the communication setting.
• Skill Development: Helping clients develop skills to effectively manage issues and/or explain situations.
• Clarifying Content and Meaning: Confirming and clarifying the message's intended meaning both verbally and nonverbally.
• Using Reflection: Restating or summarizing the client's points, showing active listening and empathy.
• Constructive Confrontation: Addressing specific behaviors that hinder progress.
• Silence: Utilizes pauses to let clients process their thoughts before responding.
• Accepting Communication: Acknowledging and valuing how clients communicate, both verbally and nonverbally.