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Running Head: SCHOLARY ARTICLE: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

Scholarly Assignment: Journal Article Review


Nursing 150
Karimah Lewis N00285276
Humber College
Professor: Vasanthy Harnanan
Date Submitted: Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

SCHOLARY ASSIGNMENT: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

Due to increasing demands on the health care profession, facilities that provide healthcare
services are often overcrowded and busy. Physicians and nurses are expected to work in a
multidisciplinary team, to servicing patients in order to ensure operational efficiency (Curtis &
Tzannes, 2011). Nurses are increasingly expected to not only have strong clinical skills, but also
effective communication skills to assist in articulating patient concerns effectively to the
attending physician. The articles Transforming Physician-Nurse Communication and How to
talk to doctors, will be used interchangeably throughout the body of this paper to discuss the
importance of communication among nurses and physicians. Furthermore, the reasons for such
breakdowns in communication will be introduced, and recommendations will be offered of how
to effectively improve communication in the medical profession. Communication between nurses
and physicians are essential in determining positive patient outcomes (Bujak & Bartholomew,
2011; Curtis & Tzannes, 2011).
When communication is ineffective in the nursing profession it negatively impacts the
client, diminishes the profession, and impacts client care. Patient, nurse and physician interaction
helps to alleviate patients anxiety when receiving care (Curtis & Tzanness, 2011). When the
communication breaks down, it negatively impacts patients help, wellbeing, and level of
treatment they receive (Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011). Historically physician and nurses only
interacted for the purpose of nurses completing orders directly given by doctors. Nurses had
limited access to patient information, and often were limited to bedside assistance, and
supportive services to the family (Curtis & Tzanness, 2011). With shifting viewpoints of the
value of nurses in effective service to patients, nurses are required to be equipped with the tools
to communicate effectively. One of the tools nurses are taught to use is a method coined as
SBAR (Solution Background Assessment Recommendation), this outlined template is for

SCHOLARY ASSIGNMENT: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

effective discussions even in critical situations (Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011). When using this
tool nurses are able to make a meaningful contribution to a clinical team. An effective tool Curtis
& Tzanness, 2011 also highlight the SBAR method, and introduces the importance of
introduction to the SBAR method. Nurses are encouraged to introduce themselves at each
interaction with a physician, in order to personalize the exchange helping physicians to learn
their names and improve the clarity of communication.
Barriers to communication reflect itself through the daily challenges that nurses face in
their day to day work. Increasing workload as the demands of healthcare grow vastly each year,
an aging population, longer and overlapping shifts,

contribute to the breakdown in

communication levels (Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011). Perception of self, impact the way in
which nurses will interact with physicians also. A nurse who perceives their level of education as
insufficient, will lack assertiveness in their approach in communicating to physicians in regards
to a patients treatment plan. Although competence is the nurses ability to use her/his
knowledge, skill, judgement, attitude, values and beliefs to perform in a given role, situation and
practice setting (CNO pg 5) nurses often feel education is an indicator of performance (Bujak &
Bartholomew, 2011).
Recommendations to improve communication include, being aware of ones triggers as a
nurse in order to eliminate barriers to communication. Remaining aware of ones physical and
emotional state will aid in promoting effective communication (Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011).
Knowing the style in which you communicate, understanding stressors, and providing an
empathetic response can move communication along effectively between nurses and doctors
(Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011). Preparing ahead of time for interactions with physicians, can also
help to foster a relationship of mutual respect, and keep the lines of communication clear and

SCHOLARY ASSIGNMENT: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

concise (Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011). Understanding assertiveness versus aggressiveness and
practicing how to conduct oneself assertively, will assist nurses articulating a patients treatment
plan effectively (Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011). Professional relationships are based on trust and
respect, and result in improved client care (CNO, 2002). If both nurses and physicians focus on
patient care as their first priority, it can strengthen the desire to communicate effectively.
An error rate of only 1% could potentially lead to ten errors relating to patient
management, over the course of a typical shift (Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011). Consistent
breakdowns in communication can contribute to errors in servicing patients in care. Nurses and
physicians are educated separately; however, they are expected to work together to provide
sufficient client care (Curtis & Tzannes, 2011). The responsibility remains with both physicians
and nurses to open the lines of communication in order to provide the most effective service to
patients. If nurses and physicians have opportunities to train together, it may provide a forum
where nurses and physicians can learn from each other. This can aid in dispelling the views of
nurses having less credentials than doctors, and develop a mutual understanding to aid in
providing a continuum of service to patients that they both provide service to. Having
opportunities for case conferencing when transferring patient information, may also challenge
the assumptions that the medical field holds on nursing education, in comparison to evidence
based models used in physician training (Bujak & Bartholomew, 2011; Curtis & Tzannes, 2011).
Nursing practice can improve drastically if physicians and nurses improve communication. The
impacts of effective communication will be displayed in the interactions with patients, which can
contribute to decreasing the amount of errors in patient care per shift (Bujak & Bartholomew,
2011). Nursing standards have opted for therapeutic standards that are aimed at improving
patients experience. Nurses are expected to greet clients introducing themselves and calling

SCHOLARY ASSIGNMENT: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

clients by name (CNO, 2002). Prompting nurses to not only adopt communication standards
with physicians, but a cross fertilization of effective communication offering collaborative
service through a patient centered approach. Furthermore, if the nurse is able to articulate the
names of those who are a part of the patients care team, and practice active listening skills when
performing services to patients, it strengthens their therapeutic relationship. Nurses are further
encouraged to have varying communication styles in an effort to improve patient care. Also,
nurses are required to assist patients in advocating for themselves in appropriate situations.
Effective communication further helps nurses to explain required treatment to patients in simple
terms, thus offering another means of strengthening relationships and trust in the care team.
The importance of communication is not only reserved to one part of the clinical team, as
demands on the health care profession continue to increase due to the changing client population.
Communication is infused in the curriculum of nursing programs, and the standards of practices
of the profession. Nurses are encouraged not only to become effective communicators
themselves, but also to be willing to transfer that knowledge to patients, and their families.
Nurses are often providing long term care to patients over extended periods of time, and must
effectively communicate their patients progress to physicians who will make decisions which
will impact the patients care plan. Overall understanding the importance of communicating in the
medical field is essential to ensure that all parties are on the same page. Nurses and doctors must
communicate effectively to ensure that client centered care is provided to clients. Nurses are
offered tools to ensure that they are continuing to meet the required demands of the profession.
Aids such as SBAR, are effective resources to allow nurses the opportunity to be able to ensure
that they are communicating the needs of the patients effectively to doctors. Also nurses are
provided with effective training which incorporates communication is a part of the education

SCHOLARY ASSIGNMENT: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

they receive. It is important for nurses to understand how reflective practice can aid in managing
communication in the field. If nurses are able to understand their triggers and manage their
emotions, then when difficult situations arise or critical incidents occur, nurses can place feelings
aside and maintain communication so that the patients voice can be heard. As an upcoming
nursing professional I have learned that communication is the responsibility of all persons
involved in the client care team. I have also learned that my ability to effectively communicate
will eliminate errors in patient care, build trust in relationships with physicians and demonstrate
competency in the nursing profession (CNO, 2013).

SCHOLARY ASSIGNMENT: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

References
Curtis, K. & Tzannes, A. (2011). How to talk to doctors- a guide for effective communication.
International nursing review, 58. Retrieved from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2010.00847.x/epdf

Bartholomew, K. & Bujak, J. (2011). Transforming Physician-Nurse Communication.


Healthcare Executive, 26. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.rap.ocls.ca/docview/875635728/fulltextPDF?accountid=11530

College of Nurses of Ontario. (CNO). (2009). Practice Standard: Professional Standards.


Revised 2002. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cno.org/Global/docs/prac/41006_ProfStds.pdf

College of Nurses of Ontario. (CNO). (2013). Practice Standard: Therapeutic Nurse-Client


Relationship, Revised 2006. Retrieved
from http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/prac/41033_Therapeutic.pdf

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