Running

head: HEARING WHAT ISNT SAID 1

Hearing What Isnt Said

A Nursing Communication Mode Research Essay

Cydni Haley

Louisiana State University

Author Note
Cydni Haley, Department of English, Louisiana State University. This paper is prepared

for English 2001, taught by Professor Coco. The audience of this research essay is first

year nursing students.

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ABSTRACT

This paper explores the differences in nonverbal communication when entering the

medical field. This essay gives a definition of nonverbal communication and how it is

effective when it comes to patients who have learning disabilities. The paper goes into

depth on facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact and how vital each one of them is

when it comes to communicating nonverbally. This paper also examines the pitfalls of

nonverbal communication and how it can effect communication between the patients.

Keywords: Nonverbal communication, body language (nonverbal)

communication
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Preface:
In focus I give myself a 2, because I know what I am talking about and know how
I want to present it to my audience. I feel like I am on the right track with my focus
because I have my three subtopics. In organization I give myself a 2 again. I feel like my
transition from each paragraph could be a little bit better. I guess Im just confused on
how to transition from each paragraph. In development I give myself a 1. I know it seems
like I have a lot of detail in my subtopics, but I feel like I either going in the wrong
direction with my detail or I am just not getting the meaning of how to present an
example of my subtopics. I feel like some of my examples could be stronger and I could
add a little bit more detail on each subtopic but I just dont know how since nonverbal
does not have a lot of information on it. I rate myself 2 in audience because I feel like I
am not being as formal as I should in my paper, like I would want my audience since it is
first year nursing students to understand these communication skills that deal with
nonverbal.
My concerns I have about the paper is that I want to able to give the information
and somebody understand it. I do not know if my examples are correct? Like should I go
in more detail with my examples? Am I presenting my information correctly to the
audience? How would I include examples pertaining to nonverbal?

After reading your midterm response to my nonverbal paper, I could not agree
with you more. I understand where you were coming from when you added that some of
my paragraphs especially my introduction could be broken into two paragraphs. My
examples were all over the place in which you stated where they were and I think that
helped a lot, because after rereading it, I sorted the examples out in a better understanding
to where they made sense. All your comments were helpful towards my paper, so
hopefully this time around my paper comes out better.
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Hearing What Isnt Said

Introduction

As first year nursing students, students tend to imagine that in the medical field

communicating with patients is oral, written, and verbal. They never really think to look

at the other side of communication such as nonverbal. Nonverbal communication often

goes unnoticed, but is the most important way of communicating. Nonverbal

communication is an interactive communication that involves a persons recognition

and a use of gestural communication skills (Chambers 2003). Hurst-brown and Keens

believed that successful interactive communication requires a significant ability in

eight different areas, those are hearing, sight, memory, attention, turn taking, eye contact,

self awareness, and group awareness (Chambers 2003). Nonverbal communication is

used in all different aspects especially when it comes to patient and physician

communication, such as posture, eye contact, touching and tone of voice. Having

nonverbal skills as nurses it improves their relationship with patients, especially with

learning disability.
Cydni Haley 4/27/2017 11:56 AM
Comment [1]: I ended up fixing this
Nonverbal Communication Examples
whole paragraph and cutting it down some
because I felt it was all over the place
Facial expressions are a big part of nonverbal communication skills. If a patient is

not able to speak, they are able to communicate through facial expressions. In todays

world much of our communication takes place electronically, like email and text

messages but in the hospital nurses are always face to face with patients. Our facial
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expressions play a big part with patient and nurse communication. Plutchik argues that

emotional expressions are innate (Chambers 2003). What he meant by this is that our
Cydni Haley 4/27/2017 11:59 AM
Comment [2]: I went into further detail as
expressions are inborn; we always give a facial expression in any situation. Since those for explaining what innate meant because
after reading my example I gave I feel that it
facial expressions are innate physicians often misunderstand what they actually mean. needed to be expanded on

He gave an example that a client frowned and shouted to get the nurse attention

because he felt uncomfortable in his wheelchair, and once his foot was released from

being tangled in the wheelchair his frown reduced (Chambers 2003). Looking at

someones facial expressions can tell how he or she feels even when he or she is unable

to speak. Nurses should always be tentative when it comes to patients facial expressions.

Most often when the nurse reacts to those expressions it shows that they actually care

even when it is not what the nurse is used to when it comes to communicating. Facial

expressions are not the only thing we should look at when it comes to nonverbal skills.
Cydni Haley 4/27/2017 12:00 PM
Comment [3]: Previously I had this
Gestures are another form of nonverbal communication that is seen throughout paragraph the paragraph above combined
but I felt they could be separate paragraphs
communication between nurses and patients. Patients gestures convey signals to nurses because there was so much detail to go into

to make them aware that something is wrong (Forsyth 83). Most of these gestures include

head movement, touch and physical closeness when speaking (Rezende et al., 2015).

Lightly touching a patients hand can signal to the patient that the nurse is concerned

about them and cares for them. Nurses tend to have interpreted cues when it comes to

dealing with patients and gestures, because they always want to make sure they feel most

comfortable. Working in the medical field physicians should always be prepared for

anything especially in the hospital environment. Gestures are huge ordeal when dealing

with patients since we are always with them taking care of them (Klunge et al., 2006).
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An example, if a patients tapping his fingers on the side table or twisting a ring on

his finger means he probably is nervous or impatient (Forsyth 83). So when a physician

sees that happening he or she will give comfort to the patient by touching them gently

and comforting them, so the patient can become at ease with their situation. Sometimes

gestures are the only means of conversations for patients. Gestures are not the only thing

we should look at when dealing with patients we should always focus on eye contact with

patients and especially when we are talking to them.

Cydni Haley 4/27/2017 12:01 PM
Comment [4]: My example was a little
Eye contact is a form of communication that we do not consider to be as confusing so I cleared it up by going into
detail and I fixed the ONLY comment you
important as other communication skills. When nurses keep eye contact with their made on how it should be more formal and
also deleted a few sentences from this
paragraph that was unnecessary
patients it indicates that they are focused and paying attention (Rezende et al., 2015). Eye

gaze is a particular point of interest in nonverbal cues related to understanding trust,

empathy, and rapport. As nurses it is not all about the verbal ways we communicate with

our patients sometimes it is about eye contact and how we entertain our patients. One

example given that a patient had limited speech, when he was asked if he wanted to

watch a snooker final on TV, he stuck his hand in the air (Chambers 2003). Sometimes

when a patient is not able to speak we should focus on how they are acting towards

something that we are doing to understand them. Occasionally people fail to recognize

nonverbal skills, which leads to downfalls between patients and nurses.

Pitfalls in nonverbal communication

Physicians sometimes fail to realize that actions speak louder than words, but

sometimes-nonverbal communication goes unnoticed. Being vague and imprecise can

cause a patient to not understand. Sometimes its hard for a nurse to keep their eyes

locked on everything when dealing with a patient (Forsyth 83). But most importantly
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nurses tend to get tired when gets closer to their shift ending and tend to start slouching

when walking and checking up on patients. Posture is an important nonverbal skill

because when checking up on a patient standing up straight shows a caring trait (Lawson

& Jones 2011).

Conclusion

Nonverbal communication should be considered one of the most important works

of communication, especially when comes into connection with the hospital environment.

Facial expressions, Gestures, and Eye contact are important aspects of nonverbal

communication. Each of these examples of nonverbal communication skills has their own

meaning that should be taken into depth when communication is in play with patients and

nurses. As first year nursing students, they should tend to be very watchful in patient

care, and always be attentive.

Cydni Haley 4/27/2017 12:02 PM
Comment [5]: I rewrote the whole
conclusion because there needed to be a
goal

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References
Chambers, S. (2003). Use of non-verbal communication skills to improve nursing care.
British Journal of Nursing, 12(14), 874-878. doi:10.12968/bjon.2003.12.14.11412
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Forsyth, Diane. Jul 83. Looking Good to Communicate Better with Patients.
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0392-4988-a3a6-3991bacc10cb%40sessionmgr4006&vid=12&hid=4204

Klunge, Mary, PhD & Glick, Linda. Nov 2006. Teaching Therapeutic Communication
VIA Camera Cues and Clues: The Video Inter-Active (VIA) Method. Journal of
Nursing Education,45.11,463-8.
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FA2BF3584A94PQ/14?accountid=12154

Lawson, Marjorie Thomas, and Jeffrey Schwab Jones. "Interpersonal Communication:

Nurse--Patient." Encyclopedia of Nursing Research, Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, Springer
Publishing Company, 2011. Credo Reference.
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Rezende RC, Oliveria RMP, Araujo STC, Guimaraes TCF, Espirito Santo FH, Porto IS.
Body language in health care: a contribution to nursing communication. Rev Bras
Enferm. 2015; 68(3):430-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167.2015680316i