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LETS TALK THE TALK��

Waqa, ML

Liverpool Health Service, Sydney, Australia

The issue of effective communication is not new to paediatric nursing. However, because of this ��not so new�� status, in practice we sometimes become caught up in the ��busyness�� of our clinical areas and forget the fundamentals of effective communication.

Increasing demands on nursing time sometimes means the message we communicate to others is not what we intended to send. The ��busyness�� of a shift can impact on our ability to communicate effectively and efficiently, sometimes to the exclusion of the child and their family. In addition to the potential communication difficulties of the nurses, families sometimes experience language barriers related to their non English speaking background with English being a second, possibly even a third language. The potential for mis-communication is significantly increased.

The concept of language and power is receiving substantial attention within education fields. With many nurses in New South Wales now studying across professions there is a mixing and blending of ideas. The power of what is said or what is often left unsaid is sometimes not realised. The power distribution between communicating parties may also go unrecognised.

This paper explores and discusses the concepts of communication using case studies to illustrate points. It will draw on communication theories, and explore the concepts of power and language with the aim of facilitating improved nursing interactions with the children and their families.