Communication Skills in Nursing

by Anna Windermere, Demand Media

Though nurses excel in medical and scientific knowledge and experience, to do their jobs successfully they must also have a mastery of communicating well through language and people skills. Nurses use a combination of important communication skills such as speaking, writing and interpersonal relations that help them work effectively as part of a medical team, while helping patients feel more comfortable so they can be treated properly.


Much of the work nurses do depends on their ability to speak well, to both patients and other medical personnel. Nurses must be able to speak clearly, slowly and audibly enough for their instructions to be heard accurately. Doctors' orders are often given through nurses, which makes their skill at speaking a critical factor. How well a patient's condition is evaluated also depends on the nurse's ability to speak to the patient when asking questions. The nurse's speaking ability eventually affects interaction with other nurses and the doctor's course of action, as well as patients' ability to take care of their health at home.


In the preliminary stages of a doctor's office or hospital visit, the nurse must evaluate the patient's condition. This evaluation involves the need to take extensive written notes on symptoms, medical histories and observations to put in the patient's record, for all doctors and medical personnel on the patient's case to review at any time. Nurses must be accurate in taking written notes -- even one wrong digit in a medication dosage could be devastating. Nurses who start the next shift in a hospital will rely on the previous nurse's notes for guidance in treating patients.

Human Relations

Nurses require the ability to communicate in firm yet compassionate ways. They deal with patients in often distressing health situations, so treatment must be administered with a high level of compassion and empathy. This human relations skill often comes naturally to those who choose the nursing profession, but it can be improved through experience and education, such as with training for validating a patient's experience, helping patients navigate the medical world, and using nonverbal communication. Nurses must be able to know when they have to tell the cold, hard truth, and when they need to soften the delivery of information out of human caring.


Nurses might choose to get special certification in caring for certain types of patients, such as geriatric or pediatric. These groups might require a certain level of communication that can be learned in training programs with techniques such as role-playing. Nurses who excel in communication among other skills might choose to progress in their career path to administrative managerial roles. Nurses in bachelor's degree programs usually have had more extensive training in nursing communication skills than those with lesser degrees.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
Suggest an Article Correction

Have Feedback?
