The first communication skill that I have acquired is the ability to read and interpret the body language of the speaker during conversation. I have learned that non-verbal cues such as gestures, eye movement, and facial expressions are an important aspect part of communication (Garon, 2012). Understanding body language is an important interview skill because reading non-verbal cues has helped me to understand the attitude of the interviewee I have engaged with thereby helping me to respond and pose questions appropriately. Another communication skill I have developed in the quarter is active listening. I have learned to be more attentive when listening by desisting from interrupting the speaker and by maintaining eye contact with the speaker. I have learned to take time to listen and understand the message delivered by the speaker before offering a response. Active listening skills will help me to have an enhanced interaction with the interviewee by showing them my interest in the interview and subject matter (McMullen, 2014) Listening skills were useful when I was tasked with interviewing a registered nurse about her experience delivering care in her current hospital since I was able to gather information with ease.
One method that hinders my ability to gather information is my interviewing technique where I ask close-ended questions. In one interview with a nursing manager, I realized that the yes or no answer questions I was asking were restricting the type of responses they could provide and that was hindering my capacity to gather sufficient information. I can overcome this by practicing to ask open-ended question during interviews so as to allow the interviewee to express themselves freely. Another method that hinders my capacity to collect information is the overuse of jargon and technical terms. The method hampers the interview process because in some cases the interviewee may lack an understanding of the technical terms and this can create a barrier. The use of jargon can also make the interviewee uncomfortable thereby creating a hostile atmosphere. I learned this in a past interview with a hospital administrator. Throughout the interview, I used technical nursing phrases and I noticed that they were uncomfortable throughout the interaction.
One skill I have learned in the course is paying attention to detail. I have learned that because of the nature of nursing practice, especially during physical assessments, it is crucial to pay attention to all details no matter how insignificant they may appear. Another skill that I have learned during the course is critical thinking. Critical thinking skills I have acquired include making observations, analyzing those observations, identifying problems and responding to emerging situations. Critical thinking skills also help when developing plans of care for patients. One area of nursing knowledge I have learned is evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice entails using the most current knowledge in nursing when providing care (AMSN, 2017). The second area of knowledge is nursing ethics which explores the moral and professional principles that guide the delivery of care.
One area that remains unclear is the topic of critical care. Critical care is an area of nursing knowledge that concerns the care provided to people with chronic diseases, life-threatening injuries or conditions. The second area that is unclear is the field of health policy. Health policy is a topic of nursing that examines decisions, regulations, and laws that help to promote health in the society. I will improve my clarity of the topics by undertaking extensive research through the available resource centers such as the library, nursing journals, and online databases. I will also improve my understanding by engaging in discussions with fellow students on those particular topics.
- AMSN. (2017). Evidence-based practice. Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. Retrieved from: https://www.amsn.org/practice-resources/evidence-based-practice
- Garon, M. (2012). Speaking up, being heard: registered nurses’ perceptions of workplace communication. Journal of Nursing Management, 20(3), 361-371.
- McMullen, L. (2014). 7 ways to be a better listener while interviewing. US News. Retrieved from: https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/19/7-ways-to-be-a-better-listener-while-interviewing