As a nurse, you can’t avoid verbal and written communication. Nurses are constantly communicating with colleagues and patients, and sometimes they may even have to communicate with their patients’ families as well. Communication skills are one of the most essential parts of being a nurse, and if you master these skills, you are well on your way to having a successful career.

We have gathered the most essential skills and strategies to help you communicate with patients, their families, and your colleagues. Not only will these skills help pave the way to success, but they will also help you maintain accuracy and safety in your care.

Effective communication skills every nurse needs

1. Use non-verbal communication

Sometimes, the most powerful words aren’t spoken. Using non-verbal communication can help make patients feel comfortable in your presence. Whether it’s by making eye-contact and controlling the tone of your voice, you might be able to make a huge impact in someone else’s life.

Having proper posture, using appropriate body language, or simply wearing a smile can certainly help with communicating with co-workers, patients, and their families.

2. Be an active-listener

Being an active-listener isn’t just responding in an effective way. It’s also listening to understand the other person’s words and situation. When you are speaking to a patient, or even a colleague, try to show them that you are actively engaging in the conversation. Again, maintain eye contact, lean your head forward, nod at them to take note of their words.

Even how your feet are positioned and where your arms are can show that you are listening. Be aware of what they are saying, and show them that you are paying attention.

3. Make personal connections

This is something no one can teach you, as it is a skill that you have to build over time. Making personal connections requires you to show that you are caring, compassionate, and kind while tending to your patients’ needs and providing and gathering information about their connection.

When you show that you want to collaborate with your patient, it will help them trust you as their caregiver and feel accepted.

4. Show cultural awareness

Everyone has a unique background. As a nurse, it’s impossible to avoid patients who come from different cultures, countries, and regions, which is why it’s important for you to be aware that some common practices or gestures in your culture might not be accepted by all cultures.

With every patient and even colleague, try to put yourself in their shoes. Attempt to consider your actions and try to be culturally aware when communicating with someone.

5. Have concise written communication

This is a must for communicating with other nurses and doctors. When writing reports or filling out forms, you should always make sure that your written communication is easy to understand and concise.

Your sentences should be written completely and be grammatically correct. Use appropriate abbreviations and terms that are universal to everyone. Having great written communication will help improve your relationship with colleagues and also maintain accuracy and safety when caring for patients.

6. Be trustworthy and show compassion

Being trustworthy can mean multiple things. It could mean to just keep your word all the time and to never make promises that you are unable to keep. It could also mean being present with your patient and taking their concerns seriously. Whatever the case may be, a patient-nurse relationship should always be based off of some level of trust and it’s important to maintain that trust when providing care.

Showing compassion often means that you should treat your patients with respect and with dignity. Keep in mind that some of these patients may feel helpless and frightened. Again, put yourself in their shoes and consider their point of view. By doing so, you are showing that you are empathetic to their situation.

7. Use presentation skills

If you are a nurse in a leadership position, or even a nurse just starting out, presentation skills are a must. Throughout your career, you might be asked to present other nurses and staff members with either small or large amounts of information.

Whenever you need to present something, careful planning is vital. Use clear aids to show your information more effectively and make an effort to understand your audience.

Communication is the key to success

Communication, again, is an essential part of being a nurse. Sharpening your skills and improving on them will only help your career in the long run. Use any of these skills to help you be a master communicator!

Have other communication skills that have helped your career as a nurse? Be sure to share them below.