If you just communicate, you can get by. But if you communicate skillfully, you can work miracles.

Jim Rohn

Communication Skills

Effective communication skills are vital to improve safe and effective client care, manage stressful situations, de-escalate conflicts, and to build confidence when communicating with clients, family, and team members

Fact

Research from The Institute for Healthcare Communications estimated that two-thirds of medical errors that occurred during a 10-year study period were caused by miscommunication.

Helpful Tools to Improve Written and Verbal Communication with Family, Clients and Team Members

An Organized Way to Structure Client Reports/Updates: SBAR explained
https://www.ihi.org/resources/pages/tools/sbartoolkit.aspx

SBORS: Variation of SBAR Specific for PSW to Report Client Observations
https://hpcconnection.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/sbors_tool_for_psw_observation.pdf

Complete List of Communication Strategies to Communicate Effectively with Colleagues/Patients/Families
https://www.aha.org/center/project-firstline/teamstepps-video-toolkit

VCN In-service for PSWs on Communication Strategies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boGLJ8amPvY&t=147s

Note: Closed Loop (improves safety) & C.U.S (professional way to express concern)

Click the icons below to discover links to references and tools to help with communication skills!