When you are a healthcare traveler, you must communicate with many people quickly to keep yourself and your patient on track. You must know what is expected of you by your agency, your patients, and your coworkers. To understand these expectations, communication must happen.
Why Do We Need to Communicate?
During training on becoming a travel nurse, there are many classes and conversations geared toward how to communicate. This is because, in all things, communication is vital. Without communication, we may as well be spewing out nonsense and expecting a positive reaction. Proper communication allows us to:
- Administer medication
- Assist patients
- Listen to what ailments exist
- Discuss possible treatment plans
- Troubleshoot symptoms
If we were unable to communicate, the above list would have disastrous consequences. We must be able and willing to communicate with each other all the time.
What Specifics Pertain to Travel Nursing?
When travel nursing, there are many people you must communicate with to learn your place of assignment, how to travel to this place, when to be there, and what patients you will encounter during your time there. If you were unable to communicate about such things, then travel nursing would be nonexistent.
A good travel nursing company will provide you with names and phone numbers to people and places in the community who will assist you in various situations. Creating stable contact with these people will assist you in finding your place in the new community, having people to help you in your transition, and finding new mentors to help you grow and succeed.
As a healthcare traveler, you are often switching patients and connecting with different physicians throughout your day. You must be careful not to brush over the information given to you during shift changes. This information is vital in caring for your patient and must be taken seriously. Without this information, you could cause discomfort or harm to your patient.
How Can I Improve My Communication Skills?
Being a healthcare traveler requires you to move from place to place at a moment’s notice. This can put a strain on your communication skills and become a stressor for you and your colleagues. There are some ways you could help ensure that your communication skills are up to snuff:
- Speak clearly at all times
- Do not use slang when speaking; use full sentences or commonly used jargon if you work with other healthcare workers.
- Speak slowly; this will help ensure the other person is listening and absorbing the information you are giving them.
- Remember who you are talking with. Being aware of your audience is imperative when finding a way to communicate something to them.
- Ask for understanding; be sure to ask the person working with you to understand the information you gave to them.
- Then, when checking for understanding, encourage your colleagues to continue serving their patients as best they can. A positive outlook, even during trying times, can help usher along with healing.
Communicating is essential at all levels, but especially when the safety of the patient is at hand. Communicating positively with the patient and with the family members will help you learn how to have a proper delivery. If you cannot deliver information concisely and politely, then fewer and fewer people will listen to what you have to say.
If you want to be successful at travel nursing or as a general healthcare traveler, you must be willing to talk with those around you to find solutions. Without a high level of communication, the patient will not be adequately cared for. The safety of your patients is your number one priority as a healthcare traveler, and it should be treated as such.
Communicating with your patients and colleagues will help you get through the day and what will ultimately keep your patients alive. Without communication, it would all fall apart. If you are clear, slow to speak, aware of your audience, and checking in with your listeners to see if they understood you, this is what will keep you, your patients, and your coworkers on track to providing the best healthcare possible.
At TLC Nursing, we provide classes to help you learn how to communicate with different people. Apply with us today and see how we can assist you in developing your skills and honing in on your direct communication. We are here to help.
