1. III. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
A. INTRODUCTION
III. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

2. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEFINED
Communication is a process of exchanging ideas and feelings
It occurs when meaning is conveyed from one person to another verbally and nonverbally
(Peris Mary Hamilton)

3. EXAMPLE OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Think about how you communicate nonverbally in the following situation?
Eg: When you walk into a room and you are distracted by the fact that you are behind schedule, you walk directly to the IV and never address the patient

4. EXAMPLE OF VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Think about what you are communicating verbally in the following situation:
VERBAL: You tell the pt you are going to teach them (x, y, z) , but never assess their readiness for teaching. They may be thinking of their child at home who is sick, or about a bill that they cannot pay, or of their job which they may lose if they aren’t discharged soon

5. ASSERTIVENESS
DEFINITION: type of inter-personal behavior which enables an individual to act in his own best interest, to stand up for himself without anxiety, to exercise his rights without denying the rights of others.
Sounds easy enough! But it is probably perceived as more difficult than mastering a highly technical skill

6. DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ACT ASSERTIVELY?
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even though there is no guarantee of getting your way, this behavior may lead to a compromise
Despite the end result:
You will feel better about yourself
You have an increased chance of getting your way
You have treated others respectfully
You have avoided a hostile situation

7. MISCONCEPTIONS
IDENTIFY WHY NURSES AVOID ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION?

8. IDENTIFY WHY NURSES AVOID ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION?
Nurses see assertiveness as contrary to the traditional characteristics of a nurse:
nurturing,
other-centered,
self-denying

9. MISCONCEPTIONS
Assertive communication is misconceived to be the same as aggressive behavior.
In reality assertive behavior maintains a balance between which two types of behavior?
Between aggressive and passive behavior

10. Is ASSERTIVENESS Difficult to Learn?
Assertiveness can be learned
It is risky and anxiety producing
It is not genetic
It is not just for extroverts.
It is a skill and as with all the complex technical skills learned by nurses it takes practice to perfect

11. COMPARISON BETWEEN PASSIVE, AGGRESSIVE AND ASSERTIVE BEHAVIOR
CONCERNS BALANCE OF RIGHTS: ASSERTIVE BEHAVIOR: your rights other’s right other’s rights PASSIVE BEHAVIOR: YOUR RIGHTS YOUR RIGHTS AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR: other’s rights

12. ACCOMODATING
Unassertive, cooperative tactic used when individuals neglect their own concerns in favor of others’ concerns
Frequently used to preserve harmony
A nurse gets up from a chair when a doctor asks to use it even though she was not finished using the computer and has to start her note over at another computer.