Chapter 1 Communication Questions and Answers
Question 1. Define communication.
Answer:
Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages between parties.
Communication Definition:
Webster’s New Collegiate dictionary defines communication as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.
Communication is the interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs. To some communication is the exchange of information between two or more people, in other sense the exchange of ideas or thoughts.
Read And Learn More: Bsc Nursing 2nd Year Communication And Education Technology Previous year Question and Answers
Question 2. What is the communication process? Write down the elements of the communication process.
Answer:
Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Communication is the interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
The communication process is through seven steps. They are:
Communication Process Source Or sender: The person or objects that pass information or ideas to other persons is known as the sender or source
Communication Process Ideas: This is the subject matter of communication. This might be opinions, attitudes, feelings, views, suggestions, orders, etc
Communication Process Encoding: The conversion of subject matter into symbols (words, actions, pictures, etc.) is the process of encoding. Symbols are transmitted from the sender to the receiver. communication process
Communication Process Channel: The symbols are transmitted through certain channels, for example, radio, telephone, speech, written message, gestures, etc. depending upon the relative distance between the sender and the receiver
Communication Process Receiver: The receiver is the person to whom the message is meant for
Communication Process Decoding: The receiver converts the symbol received from the sender to give him the meaning of the message
Communication Process Feedback: Feedback is the response from the receiver. Feedback is necessary to ensure that the receiver has received the message and understood it in the same sense as the sender wants.
Question 3. Write down the channels of the communication process.
Answer:
Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Communication is the interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
Communication Channel: A channel is a medium through which a message is sent or received between two or more people. Several channels can be used to send or receive the message, i.e. seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting. It is believed that when a sender uses more than one channel, the message is delivered more effectively and communication is smoother. For example, when teaching a patient about the use of incentive spirometry, the patient will understand more easily if a nurse uses conversation along with the demonstration of techniques.
Types Of Communication Channels
Visual channels: Visual channels of communication are considered to be the most primitive because they have been used since before languages were developed. They are primarily used to send messages through nonverbal communication. Some of the nonverbal channels are facial expressions, body language, posture, gestures, pictures, written symbols, words, etc.
- Nurses are commonly found using visual channels to send or receive messages to their patients or healthcare teams. For example, when a nurse in a medical unit observes a patient sleeping in an awkward position and repeatedly touching his or her abdomen, the nurse receives a message (through visual channels) that the patient is not comfortable and may be experiencing pain or discomfort in the abdomen.
- In another instance, when a scrubbed nurse involved in assisting with a surgical procedure needs gauze pieces, she asks the circulatory nurse to supply them by showing her four fingers indicating the number of gauze to be supplied.
- In large organizations, most communication is carried out by written circulars, memos, e-mails, personal letters, and notices. However, visual channels of communication are used most frequently and promptly in general as well as in health care scenarios.
Auditory channels: Auditory channels are used to send or receive verbal communication messages. Auditory channels are the most frequently used channels of communication and involve the use of spoken words and sounds to transmit messages between two or more individuals. Auditory channels are the cheapest, easiest, quickest, and universally available channels of communication. For example, when nurses want to collect the health-illness history from patients and their families, they prefer to use auditory channels of communication so they can promptly, easily, and cost-effectively communicate with the patients and their families.
Tactile channels: Tactile channels involve conveying messages through touch. For example, nurses wanting to show sympathy towards a patient in grief and loss will use touch to show their concern. This channel of communication is less frequently used but is considered one of the most powerful channels for conveying emotions.
Combined channels: As the name suggests, these are the use of more than one channel of communication at any given instance to send or receive messages. It is widely believed and proven by research that the use of combined channels of communication is a stronger means of effective communication.
Question 4. Importance’s of communication.
Answer:
Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Communication is the interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
- Clear and appropriate communication is essential for maintaining good interpersonal relationships and providing effective nursing care.
- Overcoming communication barriers is necessary where the population is multicultural.
- Non-verbal communication has different meanings in different cultures
- Clear communication about the client and his care is important
- Provides better resources to the profession
- Means of personal and social interaction between the people.
- It is a basic component of human relationships
Nurses who communicate effectively are better able to:
- Initiate change that promotes health
- Establish a trusting relationship with the client and support persons
- Prevent legal problems associated with nursing practice (Negligence, Malpractice)
- It is essential in interdisciplinary teams
Question 5. Discuss the characteristics to facilitate effective communication.
Answer:
communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Communication is the interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
Characteristics to facilitate effective communication.
- Have a positive attitude about communication.
- Defensiveness interferes with communication.
- Work on improving communication skills.
- Increased awareness for improving communication is the first step to better communication.
- Include communication as a skill to be evaluated along with all other skills.
- Help other people to improve their communication skills by helping them to understand their communication problems.
- Make communication goal-oriented.
- Approach communication as a creative process rather than simply part of working with people.
- Accept the reality of miscommunication.
- Warmth and friendliness maintain the quality of communication.
- Openness and respect- an attitude of acceptance,
- Empathy, identifying with the way another person feels.
- A comfortable environment helps to create a trustworthy and safe environment for communication
Question 6. Enlist the barriers to communication.
Answer:
Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Communication is the interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
Physical Barriers: Physical distractions are the physical things that get in the way of communication. Example: telephone, desk, uncomfortable meeting place, closed office doors, barrier screens, etc.
- Poor Health, Fatigue, hearing Defect, Speech Defect
Perceptual Barriers: The problem with communicating with others is that we all see the world differently. Something like extrasensory perception would take place.
Emotional Barriers: One of the chief barriers comprised mainly of fear, worry, anxiety, etc.
Cultural Barriers: Every culture has its symbol of behavior. If these symbols are not understood by an individual then there is a barrier in their communication.
Language barriers: Language is a vehicle for communication that describes what we want to say. It presents barriers to others who are not familiar with our expressions, buzzwords, and jargon.
Gender Barriers: There are distinct differences between the speech patterns of a man and a woman. A man talks in a linear, logical, and compartmentalized way and features of left-brain thinking, whereas a woman talks more freely mixing logic, emotions, and features of both sides of the brain.
Interpersonal Barriers: There are some levels at which people can distance themselves from one another.
- Withdrawal – is an absence of interpersonal contact. It is both refusal to be in touch and time alone.
- Rituals – are meaningless, repetitive routines devoid of routine contacts.
- Past Time – Fill up time with others in social but superficial activities.
- Working– activities are those tasks that follow the rules and procedures of contact.
- Closeness- the aim of interpersonal contact where there is a high level of honesty and acceptance of self and others.
Wrong channel: channels help the receiver to understand the nature and importance of the message. “Good morning” an oral channel is more appropriate than writing it on a board.
Lack of feedback: Feedback is the mirror of communication.
- Intellectual: Level of understanding, Lack of knowledge, Low IQ, Misinterpretation of words
- Social: Cultural differences, languages.
Question 7. Enlist the techniques of communication.
Answer:
Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Communication is the interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
Techniques of effective communication:
Conversation skills:
- It is social interaction.
- Control the tone of your voice so that you convey exactly what you mean to say and not a hidden message.
- Be knowledgeable about the topic of conversation and have accurate information.
- Be flexible, clear, and concise.
- Avoid words that may be interpreted differently.
- Keep an open mind.
- Take advantage of the available opportunity.
Listening skills: Involves both hearing and interpreting.
- It requires attention and concentration to sort out, evaluate, and validate clues to better understand the true meaning of what is being said.
- Whenever possible sit with a person, do not cross your arms or legs because that body language conveys a message of being closed.
- Be alert but relaxed and take sufficient time so that the patient feels at ease during the conversation.
- Keep the conversation as natural as possible and avoid so overly eager
- If culturally appropriate maintain eye contact with the person. Indicate your attention by using appropriate facial expressions and body gestures.
- Think before feedback
Question 8. Write the qualities of a good communicator.
Answer:
The Qualities of a Good Communicator: Respect and empathy for the client. Good communication skills. Tolerance of values and beliefs different from one’s own. Unbiased attitudes Patience. Awareness of gender issues.
- Be authentic, honest, and open.
- Be engaging, interesting, and approachable.
- Listen actively, attentively, and with understanding.
- Use appropriate body language and facial expressions, maintain good eye contact, and show empathy.
Here are six qualities that all good communicators have in common that you can use to both train those around you and improve your abilities:
- They are honest. In the short term, it can be easier to be untruthful.
- They are proactive.
- They ask good questions.
- They listen.
- They are concise.
- They are reliable.
Leave a Reply