Six Values and Behaviors in the Nursing Profession - Coursework Example

6 CS IN NURSING The six Cs in nursing are qualities that have been evident in nurses who have been considered as being most influential in the history of nursing. Examples of some of these nurses include Florence Nightingale, Margaret Sanger, Anna Caroline Maxwell, Clara Barton, Mary Eliza Mahoney, Ellen Dougherty and Dorothea Lynde Dix. Nurses are essential in our communities because they impact lives each and every day (Dossey et al., 2012, p. 8). Nurses, midwives and also caregivers are expected to strive in having the 6 Cs- which are very vital for their profession. The six values and behaviors in the nursing profession entail care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment (Nursing and Midwifery Council NMC 2010).Nurses and nurse personnel are expected to be caring. The quality of being caring is what defines the nursing profession and is a core quality. Compassion defines nurses’ care for their patients; nurse-patient relationship is one that is grounded on respect, dignity and empathy. Competence refers to the care that nurses deliver to their patients; the nurses must possess knowledge and skills that are up-to-date and employ these with insight. Communication is vital for nurses to successfully administer their care. Courage allows nurses to come up with better ways of giving care to their patients. Also, for them to do and stand by what is right and finally commitment of nurses to their work is a cornerstone of their profession. Commitment ultimately improves the care that is given to patients. These 6 Cs reveal what individuals (patients, the family members of the patients and even colleagues) should anticipate from nursing practice. This essay focuses on the aspect of communication which makes up one of the 6Cs and how it is important in the nursing profession (NMC, 2010). Communication between nurses, doctors, patients and the patient' relatives is vital in the process of care delivery. It ascertains that patients and their relatives receive information at the correct time so as to make decisions appropriately (Pryce-Miller & Emanuel 2014, p. 17-19). Communication challenges leads to frustration and dissatisfaction of the patients in occasions where nurses are unable to give them information that is comprehensive and on time; so that it answers their questions and concerns (Spouse, Cook & Cox 2008, p. 7). Effective communication is essential in the nursing profession. In order to deliver good palliative care, nurses need to have good communication skills (Beach, Saha & Cooper 2006, p.26). Successful communication between nurses and their patients ultimately results to positive outcomes, such as: higher recovery rates, a feeling of being safe and protected, enhanced levels of patient contentment and better adherence to various treatment options (Anderson 2013). For example, a patient going through chemotherapy (active treatment) needs to be trained by nurses on how to put out their concerns and it is the duty of the nurse to pay attention to their concerns and symptoms. According to studies done patients and their relatives have different communication needs. When both their needs are addressed by the nurses then this ultimately contributes to the well-being of the patient (Peate 2011, p. 34). Communication based on patient-centered approach acts as a reassurance to the family members of the patient that their relative is being given the appropriate treatment (Benzold 2005, p.17). Constant communication needs to exist between the nurse and the one receiving care from the nurse, the family members of the patient, supervisors and co-workers of the nurse. Communication in the nursing profession is not an obvious or simple process but rather a skill that requires much effort. For nurses to be able to develop good communication skills there is the need for intensive education and practice (Vincent 2011, p.9). Nurse-patient communication is just as important as that of physician-patient. This is because nurses’ presence is constantly required across clinical settings; and also due to the fact that the nurse is the person who will be around the patient and their families at critical times assisting them in understanding bad news and paying attention to their emotional reaction to such news (McCabe 2004, p. 41-49). Majority of patients and their relatives have fears and anxieties regarding the dying process and the actual death. Patients have anxieties of experiencing pain, persistence symptoms and desertion (Pryce-Miller & Emanuel 2014, p. 17-19). From the point of being diagnosed with an illness, nurse diligently take part in providing required information, ensuring that medical information is clear and paying attention to reactions of the patient while they are evaluating various treatment options. Nursing communication challenges contribute to higher costs, patient’s discontent and decreased quality care. One of the major problems is patient care error; the likeliness of sending or getting a message that is incorrect or a nurse interpreting a message incorrectly. Another challenge that nurses face is wasted time; an incoming nurse not getting the information that they require about their patients fast enough or having to go through many files of various patients so as to acquire the patients’ information. Over the years, nurses have adapted to communication challenges and have created workarounds to deal with challenges effectively. Solutions that have been widely implemented entail the use of technology by nurses at work. A study done showed that 56.5% of nurses consider information and communication technology (ICT) to be essential in their profession (Vincent 2011, p.37). The use of voice recording can prove to be very useful to nurses. Speech is precise and fast way of capturing information while nurses are administering their care contributing to improved and timely patient care (Vincent 2011, p.41). Voice recording allows nurses to dictate notes of their patient on a portable device. They then upload the dictated information and ensure that the incoming nurse, on call doctor or relative seeking information has access to the information (Bach& Grant 2011, p.45).The relatives of the patient can be able to call and put in a key code and a medical record number so as to have access to the information. A voice recorder can also be used by a nurse to share the patient’s history with members of the care team and incoming nurse. The importance of voice recording is that it decreases the frequency of interruptions from the patient’s relatives, and there is a possibility of efficiency to be maximized at times of signoff. Recipients are also able to get the information from the voice recording via the medium that suits them most - their phone, computer, or reading dictations that have been interpreted into text. Video interactions are also possible solutions to communication challenges. They enable the information that is been passed to be accurate and if not it can easily be clarified enabling nurses to perform their duties effectively by minimizing patient care errors (Vincent 2011, p.45).When video communication is employed amongst nurses or with doctors, this helps in building rapport amongst them and also guarantees that the information received is accurate. Accuracy is established since clarifications are made in real time. The use of video communication can be employed with doctors and nurses when the patient is present, possibly at their bedside, so as to ensure that the patients and caregivers are completely included in discharge and care planning. Mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets enable caregivers to be able to perform their duties at any given point in the hospital as well as outside the hospital. These devices make it easier for nurses to have access to lab results, discharge information, electronic medical records and nurses’ schedules. This allows for the nurses to perform their duties efficiently. A nurse is also able to seek assistance from the doctor through asking questions via phone while he or she is administering a procedure and needs clarifications on instructions given regarding the patient Vincent 2011, p.47). Information about a patient in mobile devices needs to be guarded at all times. This can be achieved by use of mobile device management solutions and security policies of the hospital. The use of automated communication can be used as a solution of preventing confusion and anxiety (Booth & McBride 2007, p.23). By proactively making information accessible to the relatives of the patients, the frequency of interruption of the nurses will be reduced hence allowing them to perform their duties effectively. An example is data that is used from clinical and scheduling system (example name of the nurse who is going to be on duty) this allows for a family member to receive automated updates of their loved one and their progress in the treatment process. The updates may include a patient's room number and the nurse who is on duty. Family members can receive these updates via text. In conclusion, establishing and maintaining a good relationship between nurses and patients is a vital aspect for the process of treatment and healing. Additionally, for a good relationship to be established there is the need for nurses to develop effective communication skills (Pryce-Miller & Emanuel 2014, p. 17-19). Patients spend majority of their time interacting and communicating with nurses as compared to other healthcare professionals. Nurses need to be honest and keep their promises in the whole process of communication. Bibliography ANDERSON.L. (2013). 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