On effective communication

Abstract

FigureEffective team communication in the healthcare setting is the key that drives positive outcomes for every interaction we have. Improved communication among healthcare teams can increase patient safety, decrease readmissions, and facilitate overall adherence with the plan of care. Better communication improves overall job satisfaction and relationships between healthcare professionals, decreases turnover, and fosters an environment of acceptance and respect. Over the years we've learned that using closed-loop communication as a safety net can ensure that messages are delivered, received, and understood. It's a useful tool in any interaction and ensures closure. The American Hospital Association (AHA) promotes TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety). According to the AHA, “TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based set of tools and a training curriculum to successfully integrate communication and teamwork principles into any health care system. It is based on decades of experience and lessons learned from high-reliability organizations such as military operations, aviation, and nuclear power.”1 The AHA states that the evidence-based tool will increase positive interactions and relationships, decrease inefficiencies, improve patient satisfaction, improve quality outcomes, decrease expenses, and improve staff satisfaction. These techniques can be used in any patient-care environment to enhance communication effectiveness.1 The methodology of TeamSTEPPS promotes equality in communication and values contributions from each person on the team. TeamSTEPPS consists of five key principles: Team Structure, Communication, Leadership, Situation Monitoring, and Mutual Support.1 The core competencies of TeamSTEPPS are based on these principles and include knowledge of shared mental models; attitudes of mutual trust and team orientation; and performance in terms of adaptability, accuracy, productivity, efficiency, and safety.1 Looking back at the year 2023, Nursing Made Incredibly Easy has continued to promote communication, team building, quality, and excellence. True to the mission and vision for this publication, 2023 saw the early success of our podcast, Nursing Isn't Easy, and we enhanced the editorial board to include students for the first time. Through it all, we've strengthened our focus on the crisis facing healthcare today. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy exemplifies that nursing isn't easy. Our mission is to support nursing students, educators, and lifelong learners through the discussion of challenging clinical concepts and fundamental professional concerns in a refreshing, original, and accessible manner. I'm proud of the work and collaboration involved in providing these issues to you. I've worked for this publication in some form for more than 12 years, and I look forward to continuing this journey. I believe what's offered in these pages is thoughtful, beneficial, evidence-based, and forward-thinking.Figure