News

No matter how knowledgeable or accredited you may be as a professional, or how well you did during your STNA training and classes, others opinions of you can quickly falter if you’ve shown poor communication skills. Whether performed in private care, hospitals, patient’s homes, or nursing homes, exceptional healthcare service is a must for an STNA career. One of the biggest factors in how well you behave with your patient and your colleagues is communication.

Dr. Albert Mehrabian conducted many studies on the topic of nonverbal communication and found that nearly 93% of all communication is nonverbal. Be mindful on not only what and how you are saying something, but also the gestures and expressions you use while saying it. Dependent on the way you speak you may either welcome or put-off those around you.

Problems May Arise
Communication is key when it comes to sharing information between parties, which happens to be an integral part of the medical field. When you lack proper communication skills you directly affect not only your patient’s compliance, anxiety, satisfaction, and safety, but also your team’s level of performance, co-operation, efficiency, and overall job satisfaction.

Your Colleagues
Have you ever heard the saying: “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch”? This can prove true in the medical field. All it takes is one person with poor communication or team-oriented behavior to bring everybody down. Good communication promotes fluid teamwork and prevents workplace conflicts.

Bedside Manner And Patient Relationships
Good communication is key in having the best possible bedside manner, not to mention the overall relationship between you and your patients. Without proper communication you put your patient at risk. Remember that good patient communication is about more than just talking. Practice good communication by listening to your patient and acknowledging their woes, as well as sharing pertinent information with them.

Honesty
Whether speaking to your colleagues or your patients, never tell them you are going to do something if you have no intentions to do so. Be as up front as you can with your patient about their treatments.

So much of the medical field has to do with fantastic communication skills. It’s never too late or too early to begin practicing ways to be a better communicator. Doing so will benefit you immensely in your personal and professional life.