It is essential for the healthcare team to exercise effective communication. Professional nurses should strive to assist patients as much as they can. The comfort goals of a patient are very important and hence, it should be the focus of a nurse. Pain management for patients is usually the main role of nurses (Griffie, 2003). In other words, nurses play the fundamental role of pain managers in their daily duties. They should assess pain levels experienced by patients and offer the most appropriate alternatives to alleviate such pain.
When it comes to teamwork, the aspect of effective communication among nurses comes in handy. It may not be possible for nurses to coordinate and manage pain among patients if they lack effective communication in place. When effective communication is exercised, it can make a major difference in the management of pain that patients go through while receiving treatment.
In spite of the importance of effective communication between nurses, there are myriads of challenges that may face whenever the element of communication comes into play. For instance, some nurses may resist to change a treatment plan for a patient whenever such a request is made (Griffie, 2003). However, a number of approaches can be used to address resistance towards change. My future nursing practice will indeed borrow a lot from the approaches discussed in the article. Some of the approaches include assessing the reason for the request, objective of the treatment process, and the level of preparation required before the pain management plan is adopted.
I suppose that honesty is a major attribute of effective communication between a nurse and patient. In my future nursing practice, I expect to cultivate trustworthiness to my patients by being honest with them all the time. Effective communication should also be trusted by the receiver. The article highlights the importance of a coordinated workforce in nursing practice. If honesty lacks between nurses and patients, then breakdown in communication is inevitable.
Vital and procedural steps towards effective communication will be crucial in my nursing practice. From the article, the management of pain or treatment process for patients will be a key area of operations in my nursing practice. To begin with, effective communication will have to start with the presentation of a thorough pain assessment plan. In nay case, the entire healthcare team usually relies on nurses for direction when it comes to basic care delivery to patients. This implies that decisions made by nurses are crucial in the implementation of key operations within a healthcare setting. Second, individual nurses and nursing teams should emphasize the treatment goals and issues at hand. The comfort required by a patient while undergoing treatment should be used by nurses as the baseline for care delivery (Griffie, 2003).
I will also find it necessary in my nursing practice to evaluate pain treatment plan on a regular basis in order to assess its effectiveness. The main purpose for reviewing treatment plan is to improve its efficacy and eventually attain the much needed comfort-function goal for patients. In addition, it is crucial for nurses to utilize latest research guidelines in enhancing the suggested changes. Before any changes are made in regards to treatment plan, it is necessary to communicate to all the concerned professional nurses (Griffie, 2003).
On a final note, the information availed in this paper will significantly influence my nursing practice. For example, I will now be in a vantage position to coordinate my nursing practice with other nurses through effective communication. Besides, I will be more equipped than before in the management of pain experienced by patients while receiving care. The article has also hinted out the element of conflict between co-workers. In my nursing practice, I have experienced conflict with both colleagues and patients in the course of my duties. My future nursing practice will indeed benefit immensely from the insights offered in this article since I have clearly understood and appreciated the fact that personal attitude can trigger unnecessary conflict at workplace. It is prudent to distinguish between professionalism and personal issues.
Reference
Griffie, J. (2003). Addressing Inadequate Pain Relief. AJN, 103(8), 61-63.