Ibrahim, Y. (2001). Practices of Critical Care Nurses Towards Verbal Communication with Unconscious Patients. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 31(4), 845-858. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2001.225991
Youssreia M. Ibrahim. "Practices of Critical Care Nurses Towards Verbal Communication with Unconscious Patients". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 31, 4, 2001, 845-858. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2001.225991
Ibrahim, Y. (2001). 'Practices of Critical Care Nurses Towards Verbal Communication with Unconscious Patients', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 31(4), pp. 845-858. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2001.225991
Ibrahim, Y. Practices of Critical Care Nurses Towards Verbal Communication with Unconscious Patients. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2001; 31(4): 845-858. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2001.225991
Practices of Critical Care Nurses Towards Verbal Communication with Unconscious Patients
Department of Critical Care Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, El Mansoura University, Egypt
Abstract
Verbal communication is an important tool which can be used by nurses to decrease the stress of the unconscious patients meet in intensive care units [ICUS]. This study attempted to investigate the practices of critical care nurses towards verbal communication with unconscious patients. A sample of 18 practical nurses and 12 professional nurses working in the ICU of Mansoura University Hospital participated in the study. The research design was non-experimental in nature, incorporating 4-hour observational periods. Results showed that participants spent very short time in verbal communication [1.95% of the episode]. Procedural /task intentions and efforts to elicit response were the categories used mainly by professional nurses. Practical nurses used more communication concerned with orientation and reassurance. About 24.7% of the communication included negative suggestions. The use of medical jargon was the most prevalent type of negative suggestions, followed by social conversations with colleagues while ignoring the patient's presence. No difference was found between practical nurses and professional nurses in the amount of negative suggestions they used in their verbal communication. Undergoing a communication training seems to be essential for critical care nurses.