Professional communication test I

Communication

A process that involves the sending and receiving of information between a sender and a receiver, requiring mutual understanding of the message.

Effective Communication

Occurs when the message intended is the message received, critical for information exchange and establishing relationships.

Therapeutic Communication

A type of communication that enhances client care through highly developed communication skills.

Verbal Communication

Communication that involves the use of spoken or written words.

Nonverbal Communication

Communication that involves gestures, facial expressions, and body movements.

Decoder

A person who interprets and makes sense of the message received in communication.

Paralanguage

The non-verbal elements of communication used to convey emotion and meaning.

Proxemics

The study of personal space and the physical distance between individuals during communication.

Kinesics

The study of body movements and gestures as a form of nonverbal communication.

Transactional Model

A model of communication that emphasizes the simultaneous sending and receiving of messages.

Linear Model

A model of communication that describes communication as a one-way process from sender to receiver.

Transformational Model

A model of communication that focuses on the changes in the communicators as a result of the interaction.

Levels of Communication

Different layers or dimensions of communication that can occur in interpersonal interactions.

Factors Influencing Communication

Conditions that can facilitate or hinder the communication process.

Client Satisfaction

A measure of how well the services provided meet the expectations and needs of the client.

Interprofessional Collaboration

The process where multiple health care professionals work together to provide optimal care.

Person-Centred Care

An approach to health care that respects and responds to individual patient preferences, needs, and values.

Health Care Professionals

Individuals who provide health care services, including nurses, doctors, and therapists.

Communication Models

Theoretical frameworks that describe how communication occurs and can be improved.

Professional Skills

Skills that are essential for effective performance in a professional context, including communication.

Interpersonal Interactions

Direct communication and engagement between individuals.

Quality Services

Health care services that meet established standards and satisfy client needs.

Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI)

An organization that recommends guidelines for health care organizations to promote effective communication skills.

Miscommunication

The leading cause of poor-quality care and major harmful events, such as injury or death, for persons receiving health care.

Sender

The originator of the message in the communication process.

Receiver

The individual who interprets (decodes) the message to determine its meaning.

Message

The information conveyed from the sender to the receiver.

Channel

The medium through which a message is transmitted, such as video, telephone, or writing.

Noise

Interference that may interrupt or distort the message, such as background noise.

Feedback

The element introduced in the International Model that reflects communication as a reciprocal two-way flow of information.

International Model

A communication model developed by Wilbur Schramm that depicts human communication as a two-way process with feedback.

Fields of Experience

An element introduced in the International Model highlighting that messages are created and interpreted by individuals.

Patient-safe Transformational Model

A complex model developed in the 2000s focusing on outcomes and higher-level competency in health care communication.

Context

The setting or circumstances surrounding the communication process.

Verbal Behaviours

Communication expressed through spoken or written words.

Nonverbal Behaviours

Communication expressed through body language, gestures, and facial expressions.

Interpersonal Communication

Communication that involves engagement and relationship-building between health care providers and clients.

Therapeutic Relationships

Relationships built between health care providers and clients that foster understanding and support.

Case Example

A practical illustration of the communication process, such as a client expressing pain to a personal care attendant.

Claude Shannon

A mathematician and engineer who developed the Linear Model of communication.

Wilbur Schramm

The developer of the International Model of communication.

Communication Theory

The study of how information is transmitted and understood between individuals.

Health Care Environment

The context in which health care communication occurs, influencing interactions between professionals and clients.

Communication Skills

The abilities required to convey and interpret messages effectively in health care settings.

Task Completion

The focus on finishing assigned duties rather than engaging with clients in communication. (linear method)

Medium/ Channel

The channel through which the message is sent, influenced by the senses of the receiver.

Interference

Any environmental factor (e.g., noise) that influences the decoding and interpretation of the message.

Field of Experience

The unique perspectives, values, culture, and personal history of the sender and receiver that shape their understanding of the message.

Encoding

The process by which the sender converts thoughts and feelings into a message.

Decoding

The process by which the receiver interprets the message based on their own experiences.

Communicator

The term used to describe both sender and receiver in the communication process.

Simultaneous Flow

The continuous exchange of messages and feedback during interactions as described in the transactional model.

Cultural Factors

Elements that affect communication based on the cultural background of the communicators.

Social Settings

The context in which communication occurs, influenced by social dynamics.

Physical Settings

The tangible environment where communication takes place, which can affect the interaction.

Emotional Consideration

The awareness of the emotions of the other party that influences the encoding of the message.

Pain Management

The process of assessing and providing medication to reduce pain during recovery.

Addiction Risk

The potential for dependency on painkillers if more medication is taken than prescribed.

Common Meaning

The understanding created between communicators during the exchange of messages.

Nonverbal Behaviors

The physical cues and actions that accompany verbal communication and influence interpretation.

Verbal Responses

The spoken feedback provided by the receiver in response to the sender's message.

Client Interaction

The communication exchange between a healthcare professional and a client, which can be influenced by various factors.

Biopsychosocial history

The individual background that influences communication, including biological, psychological, and social factors.

Intrapersonal communication

Self-talk that individuals engage in daily when they are unsure or have doubts about something.

Public communication

Communication where the nurse acts as a presenter of information to a group.

Transpersonal communication

A form of communication that transcends the physical and involves a deeper connection, often in a spiritual context.

Small group communication

Communication that occurs within a small group of people, typically involving interaction and discussion.

Client-safe communication strategies

Techniques such as trust, rapport, touch, and empathy that promote effective communication and positive client outcomes.

Feedback in communication

The response given by the receiver of a message that helps to validate or clarify the understanding of the communication.

Nonverbal behaviour

Actions or expressions that convey messages without the use of words, such as grimacing in response to pain.

Pain scale

A tool used to measure the intensity of pain, often ranging from 1 to 10.

Therapeutic use of self

The ability of a health care provider to use their own personality and experiences to promote healing and client-centred care.

Concentric circles in communication

A visual representation of factors contributing to the communication process, with each circle representing different influences. (core, context, other factors, client safe strategies)

Stereotypes in communication

Oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a group that can lead to miscommunication.

Medical jargon

Specialized language used by health care professionals that may not be understood by clients.

Illegible handwriting

Poorly written text that can lead to misunderstandings in communication, especially in medical contexts.

Client-centred care

An approach to health care that prioritizes the needs and preferences of the client.

Communication outcomes

The results of effective or ineffective communication in health care settings, impacting client safety and satisfaction.

Pamela McHugh Schuster

One of the authors who introduced the Transformational Model of communication in health care.

Linda Nykolyn

Co-author of the Transformational Model of communication in health care.

Self-awareness in communication

The ability to recognize and understand one's own thoughts and feelings during communication.

Reflective practice

The process of reflecting on one's experiences to improve future communication and interactions.

Communication in clinical practice

The application of communication skills and strategies in health care settings to enhance client care.

Communication breakdown

Failure in communication that can lead to harmful events, such as injury or death, in any health care setting.

Congruent communication

When the spoken word corresponds to the nonverbal message.

Double or mixed message

An event where the verbal message is contradicted by the nonverbal message, leading to miscommunication.

Components of nonverbal communication

Includes body language (kinesics), personal space (proxemics), and paralanguage.

Influences on communication

Factors such as language, culture, beliefs, values, emotions, age, gender, social status, education, and environment that affect communication.

Awareness in communication

The need for health care professionals to be aware of their own verbal and nonverbal behaviours as well as those of their clients.

Client safety

The promotion of safe practices in health care interactions, critical for quality care.

Communication metrics

According to Shea (2017), roughly 90 percent of communication is nonverbal and 10 percent is verbal.

Listening in care

An essential skill in person-centred care that involves understanding clients' expressions of spiritual or religious issues.

Nursing-focused spirituality

A concept that begins with the nurse's own sense of spirituality.

Influence of perceptions

Personal perceptions that can affect what is said and how messages are interpreted in communication.

Health care provider assessment

The need for health care providers to assess both verbal and nonverbal communication.

Emotional expression

The way individuals may express their emotions nonverbally, which can be masked or unexpressed.

Therapeutic process

The process of relationship building in which nurses connect with clients through awareness of mind, body, and spirit.

Body Language

A form of nonverbal behaviour displayed by gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, sitting position, and physical contact, used to convey messages either with or without words.

Facial Expression

The primary source of communication next to the spoken word, capable of conveying multiple messages such as sadness, happiness, fear, disgust, anger, surprise, pain, and doubt without words.

Eye Contact

An important aspect of engaging clients, demonstrating interest; varies in appropriateness across different cultures.