Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Patricia Schweickert

Abstract

The power to communicate effectively and respectfully in the health care setting promotes job satisfaction, retention, and healthy relationships. Ineffective communication is one of the major causes of sentinel events, incivility, nurse turnover, and workplace hostility in the health care environment. This project examined a communication competence educational program on a spinal cord injury (SCI) nursing department and its potential to improve communication competence. The project question explored whether an educational series on incivility and creating healthy relationships would increase communication competence in nurses on the SCI unit. The project used the high reliability solutions for health care model communications improvement and creative health care management tools. The oppressed group behavior theory was used to inform this project by providing an understanding of why nursing staff may experience hostility toward one another and lack effective communication skills to promote a healthy working environment. The dauntless survey questionnaire was used pre and posteducational intervention, and the results were analyzed to assess the effects of using descriptive statistics. The educational intervention reached 81 SCI nursing staff members. Results showed a 13% increase in the staff feelings of confidence when speaking up to their peers and physicians, a 3% increase in knowing what to say when difficult situations arose, and an 11% increase in feeling competent regarding their communication skills. The findings of this project may promote social change by improving communication by the team leader, charge nurse, assistance manager, and nursing staff during shift change, walking rounds, and huddles.

Included in

Nursing Commons

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