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Identify what barriers there could be to communication within the preoperative environment and explore the way these could be overcome. In the perioperative environment communication is important towards patient care the majority of patients will feel anxious and/or scared and will need reassurance from the care staff (Shields and Werder, 2002). This reassurance can be given by communication in verbal or non verbal forms. Verbal communication is the most common; we can talk to our patients.
If the patient cannot understand or speak the same language as the care staff this may cause a barrier and other means of communication will need to be used. Body language is a form of non verbal communication and can be expressed by the way we position our bodies, facial expressions and the way we have physical contact with our patient. Different cultures may vary in the body language they use and may not like a care assistant touching them for comfort or holding their hand, this is another barrier in communication between the care staff and patient (Tadd, 1998).
Communication between the surgical team is also important to ensure that they are working efficiently as a team to care for the patient. Within the operating theatre noise levels have been studied and carried out for over 40 years. Researchers have discovered that noise levels have increased over the years especially in orthopaedic surgery. Surveys have been carried out and many nurses within theatre have confirmed that they can more or less hear what is being said by their surgical team (Stringer, et al 2008).
There are many barriers to overcome with communication in the preoperative environment these can be anything from patients not being able to speak the same language, body language being misinterpreted due to cultural differences (Seed 2006), noise levels within the operating room so surgical staff may not be able to hear each other (Stringer et al 2008) and uniforms such as face masks which can prevent a large amount of verbal communication (Shields and Werder 2002).
Within this assignment the above communication barriers will be acknowledged and investigated in ways they may be able to be overcome. Shields and Werder (2002) says that it is normal for patients who are about to have surgery to feel anxious or fearful due to the stressful time they are about to experience. Tadd (1998) states that communication is just not a method we use to pass on factual information but also a way people communicate their feelings especially when feeling anxious or scared.
The perioperative nurse needs to maintain a professional manner and reassure the patients and calm any anxieties the patient feels. It is important that the perioperative nurse communicates successfully, in a sincere and approachable manner especially under the difficult circumstances the patients is under. Tadd (1998) states that at this time patients will seek comfort and reassurance which will help to put their mind at ease.
The perioperative nurse will need to develop a stress free relationship with the patient and other professionals he / she will be working with in the operating room (Shields and Werder, 2002). (Word count 1307) Bibliography Books Shields L and Werder H (2002). Perioperative Nursing. London, Greenwich Medical Media. Journals Stringer B, Haines T, A and Oudyk J, D (2008). Noisiness in operating Theatres: Nurses’ Perceptions and Potential Difficulty Communicating. Journal of Perioperative Practice. Volume 18 (9), pp. 389-39.