Communication SkillsCommunication SkillsAimsAims• To develop a basic understanding of communication skillsTo develop a basic understanding of communication skills

• Understand the different modes of communicationUnderstand the different modes of communication

• Understand impact of Understand impact of sender, receiver and the message sender, receiver and the message on process of communicationon process of communication

Michelle Huws-Thomas Lecturer in Mental Health.Michelle Huws-Thomas Lecturer in Mental Health.

Communication: Definition Communication: Definition

Communication is a process in Communication is a process in which a person, through the use of which a person, through the use of signs (natural, universal)/symbols signs (natural, universal)/symbols (by human convention), verbally (by human convention), verbally and/or non verbally, consciously or and/or non verbally, consciously or not consciously but intentionally, not consciously but intentionally, conveys meaning to another in conveys meaning to another in order to affect change.order to affect change.

CommunicationCommunicationSkills Skills

‘‘One cannot One cannot notnot communicate’communicate’

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Modes of Communication Modes of Communication • VerbalVerbal (Speech: tone, pitch, volume)(Speech: tone, pitch, volume)

• Non VerbalNon Verbal (Accounts for 70% of all (Accounts for 70% of all communication).communication).

• PosturePosture• Eye contactEye contact• GesturesGestures• Facial expressionsFacial expressions• Micro – expressions ( largely subconscious)Micro – expressions ( largely subconscious)

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

•Communication, in context of Communication, in context of nursing, is about establishing and nursing, is about establishing and developing a developing a therapeutic therapeutic relationshiprelationship with a patient/client. with a patient/client.

Our verbal/non verbal behaviours Our verbal/non verbal behaviours must convey genuine interest and must convey genuine interest and

respectrespect

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

• KinesicsKinesics – Facial Expression – Facial Expression

GesturesGestures

Eye ContactEye Contact

Position and posturePosition and posture

• ProxemicsProxemics - Territory and personal - Territory and personal spacespace

TouchTouch

OrientationOrientation

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

• Paralanguage Paralanguage - Encouragers….. ‘go on’ - Encouragers….. ‘go on’ nodding the head and so on.nodding the head and so on.

Speed of speechSpeed of speech

Accent and dialectAccent and dialect

• SilenceSilence - allowing other person to - allowing other person to speakspeak

• ArtefactsArtefacts - Dress; Physical appearance - Dress; Physical appearance

Facial Expressions-Homer Facial Expressions-Homer style!style!

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

Eye Contact (windows to the soul)Eye Contact (windows to the soul)1.1. Important in evaluating othersImportant in evaluating others

2.2. Invites or indicates intimacyInvites or indicates intimacy

Longer mutual eye contact occurs Longer mutual eye contact occurs between friends and significant between friends and significant

others than strangersothers than strangers

Communication ModelCommunication Model

Acrobat Document

Model ofModel of communication: Anxious adultcommunication: Anxious adult- How nurses behaviour impacts upon - How nurses behaviour impacts upon patient’s responsepatient’s response

Acrobat Document

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

How we think, feel and behave How we think, feel and behave influences othersinfluences others

Important to be aware of verbal and non Important to be aware of verbal and non verbal communication within dimensions of: verbal communication within dimensions of:

CONTEXTCONTEXT

CULTURECULTURE

CONGRUENCECONGRUENCE

PERCEPTIONPERCEPTION

Assignment on Assignment on communicationcommunication• 4,000 word assignment on the 4,000 word assignment on the

application of communication application of communication theory to nursing, underpinned theory to nursing, underpinned by evidence from the literature. by evidence from the literature. Related to student’s branch of Related to student’s branch of nursing.nursing.