Communication in Health and Social Care

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health and Social Care. Unit 1: Communication in Health and Social Care. P1: Create an article for the ‘Nursing Times’ magazine. Effective communication in a Hospital setting. In the health and social care setting, two types of communication take place in one-to-one and group communication. These are formal and informal communication. You may take part in a few one–to–one situations. This may be with staff and staff, staff with patients and staff with the patient family. Also as staff you may find yourself in group situation with the patient and a number of the patient’s family members.

The usual form of language in a group conversation if formal but in formal is also used as well depending on the circumstance. There are a number of factors that influence effective communication within both one-to-one interactions and group interactions. These are formal, informal, verbal, and non-verbal skills. One-to-one Communication. In a hospital, communication takes place more frequently than informal interactions. Formal interactions will be between staff and staff, staff with patients and staff with family members.

Formal interactions are very effective in one-to-ones because it is polite and medical terms are used to make it sound more professional in a serious matter. Formal communication is effective when used by staff because it is a professional way of communicating important information. Informal communications is used only in curtain circumstances not in all because it is not always polite to be informal with everyone all the time but using informal communication can lighten up the mood and make the patient feel better about the situation.

Verbal and non-verbal communication is used everyday by every staff member in the hospital setting so it is vital that the staff know how to communicate correctly. Verbal communication is when you are talking to a person. You should be confident so that the person that you are speaking to is reassured that you know what you are talking about. You should also be listening to what the person says carefully because you want to make that person feel better about being in the situation they are in. Non-verbal communication covers body language, proximity, posture, hand gestures and facial expressions.

You can use this effectively by using these things well in the right way. E. g. when you are talking to someone in a one-to-one you should be standing/ sitting straight and making eye contact. Jargon and slang are used in the hospital between staff and staff when communicating. Jargon is more medical terminology, so when an incident occurs then the staff can use jargon to make the staff fell more confident so they are not embarrassed. Jargon is an universal language so it can be used by everyone which is an advantage. Slang is a terminology that continues to change.

It is an informal way of communicating and is used normally between staff with staff and staff with patients. Slang also covers nicknames or terms for patients they are talking about. It can be used effectively to protect the identity of the patient they are discussing over which can add humour to very stressful situations. Group Communication. Group communication can take place between staff, patients and family members. It can also take place between a group of professionals. Both formal and informal communication is used.

Again, formal communication is used more often in a group conversation. Group conversations are effective because it lets more people know important information and more ideas and opinions can be shared. Informal conversation can be used to make patients feel patients feel better about the situation and can be quite humorous but if it is used in the wrong circumstance people can be offended by what is said in a jokey manner. In a group conversation verbal communication is important because it is key to make sure that each person involved knows what is being said and each person can participate.

When talking in a group it is effective to speak loud and clear so that the patient and family members know what you are saying. Also, having a good posture when talking is also effective because you will then come across as positive. Non-verbal communication is just as important as verbal communication when talking in a group. Body language is effective because it lets other people know that you are positive and confident about what they do. Jargon is generally used in group communication between staff professionals because it is not a professional way to communicate to patients and family members with.

It is effective when used between colleagues because it is a universal language so when staff from different countries communicate Jargon can be used to tell the other hospital what has happened. Slang is only used when staff are by their own so if staff are having a group meeting then slang is usually used. Written communication is used to communicate between staff and staff. E. g a board of notes about each patient is used to communicate in a ward without having to spent time to find each other when they could just write it down.

Writing, good hand writing and reading skills are need to communicate through written communication. When written communication takes place, it needs to be clear and neat with good grammar. Signs and symbols are used everywhere in hospitals. E. g no smoking, directions etc. They are effective by communicating information to people who need it where they are. It can communicate to many people without any human communication. Also with people with different cultures and languages can all understand what the signs and symbols mean.