Therapeutic Communication: Effective Communication In The Health Care Environment

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Communication is a major tool used in everyday life to transfer and receive information. Communication, therapeutic communication and interpersonal skills are especially vital in the health care environment to ensure effective and safe provision of care for all patients (Doherty, Thompson, 2014). Effective communication can be delivered in many forms, whether it be online or face to face, verbal or non-verbal. According to Boykins (2014), effective communication between the multidisciplinary team as well as the patient and their family have a higher patient safety and overall quality healthcare. Therefore, this paper will further discuss the importance of the development and use of communication and interpersonal skills and its significance within the health care environment.

Many forms of communication are used in the health environment, including therapeutic communication. Bhana (2014) states that therapeutic communication builds a relationship of trust, support
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The new generation of nurses referred to as the ‘millennials’ (Lower, 2008 as cited in Bhana, 2014) have been surrounded by technology while growing up hence, they have been significantly impacted by social networking sites (O’Keeffe et al., 2011 as cited in Bhana, 2014). Bhana (2014) shares that advances in technology have led to the creation of further learning technologies, such as Second Life® which uses a practical environment where simulations can be performed. Later, in a study performed by Aebersold et al., (2012), it was investigated that learners found Second Life® to be useful as it allowed for critical thinking skills and mutual learning and education (Bhana, 2014). Through this online simulation the nurses gain a better understanding of what will be expected of them which will in turn prioritise and improve patient care through the knowledge form the simulation