Communication and Collaboration
At Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
Objectives
Explain why communication is critical in Behavioral Health.
Summarize the impact that communication has on patient outcomes and staff safety.
Identify some of the unique challenges associated with communication in the inpatient setting.
Communication matters!
Effective communication is the cornerstone of the quality care we deliver at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH). It impacts our patient's experience in so many ways including:
- contributing to a culture of safety,
- engagement and adherence to a treatment plan,
- avoidance of the use of seclusion and restraint, and
- the building of therapeutic relationships.
Think of some of the unique challenges on Adult 2 that relate to our patient population....
Malnutrition
Dementia
Depression
Falls
Anxiety
Paranoia
Cognitive decline
Physical impairments
Mania
Delirium
Arthritis
Psychosis
Heart disease
Substance misuse
Diabetes
Given these and other unique challenges, it becomes even more imperative that we communicate effectively with patients, each other, and within our teams.
Features of effective communication include:
- involving patients in decisions,
- allowing patients to speak without interruptions,
- encouraging a patient to ask questions and in-turn, answering the questions,
- using a language that the patient understands,
- being present or paying attention to the patient, and
- discussing next steps.
Did you know....
"Communication failures are among the most frequent causes of harmful medical errors. An estimated 67% of communication errors relate to handoffs."
Source: Joint Commission, 2024
Documentation
Adult 2 is a great unit!
INFO
BHSs and RNs should take advantage of sharing valuable information with our colleagues from other teams in a variety of ways. Click each "INFO" button for more information.
Shift report
INFO
INFO
Treatment Team
INFO
Let's look at effective communication strategies.
We communicate through multiple avenues at any one given time. These include our body language, facial expressions, movements and postures, and even our attire. Hover over the radio buttons below to review specific strategies.
Showing empathy
Active listening
Respect and dignity
Patient education
Plain language
Finally, let's also look at ineffective communication styles.
Several styles of communication are considered "ineffective," when we're considering interactions with patients. This is true even though we may be well-intentioned. Hover over the radio buttons below to review specific examples of ineffective styles.
False reassurance
Giving advice
Stereotypes
Asking "why"
Arguing
Approval
Resources
American Nurses Association. (2023). Teamwork in nursing: Team-Building strategies for better patient care. ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/nursing-leadership/teamwork-in-nursing/ Ernstmeyer, K., & Christman, E. (2022). Table 2.3b, [Nontherapeutic Responses [],[]]. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK590036/table/ch2communication.T.nontherapeutic_respon/ Joint Commission. (2024). Reducing handoff communication failures and inequities in healthcare. Jointcommission.org. https://www.jointcommission.org/en-us/knowledge-library/news/2024-08-reducing-handoff-communication-failures-and-inequities-in-healthcare Luisa-Maria Michiu. (2024, February 13). Communication Strategies for Effective Patient Interaction. Rosseducation.edu. https://rosseducation.edu/new-students/communication-strategies-for-effective-patient-interaction.php Sharkiya, S. H. (2023). Quality communication can improve patient-centred health outcomes among older patients: A rapid review. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), 1–14. BMC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09869-8
Thank you
for the care you deliver at VPH!
Health outcomes are optimized when all of our disciplines are represented for the treatment team. Ensure that Nursing is represented well which is inclusive of the BHS with pertinent information. A culture of mutual respect and shared decision-making is the goal with treatment team planning. In addition to improved outcomes for our patients when we form effective treatment teams, the camaraderie that we built as members only makes us stronger- individually and collectively.
Document descriptive and factual information about your patient to share with Social Work and MD colleagues. Especially on Adult 2, our treatment team utilizes information about participation levels, engagement, interactivity, and goal setting/progression to help formulate the treatment plan. This type of information is also instrumental with discharge planning and perhaps, future placement. For example, describe in greater detail the level of assistance needed with ADLs and the patient's ability to assist with those. Describe challenges met with delivering care and related patient responses. Chart exceptions. Document information relative to deviations from the patients norm or baseline. As another example for nurses, in addition to charting a Broset score, describe agitation in greater detail and any associated characteristics.
Provide a thorough, concise, and comprehensive shift report for oncoming colleagues for each patient. Utilize the SBAR format: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. SBAR helps to improve verbal communication and reduce medical errors. SBAR is a communication tool, not a report of a patient's full health history or reviews of comprehensive exams. All RNs and BHSs should attend change of shift report in order to ensure that we are communicating key information.
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Transcript
Communication and Collaboration
At Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
Objectives
Explain why communication is critical in Behavioral Health.
Summarize the impact that communication has on patient outcomes and staff safety.
Identify some of the unique challenges associated with communication in the inpatient setting.
Communication matters!
Effective communication is the cornerstone of the quality care we deliver at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH). It impacts our patient's experience in so many ways including:
Think of some of the unique challenges on Adult 2 that relate to our patient population....
Malnutrition
Dementia
Depression
Falls
Anxiety
Paranoia
Cognitive decline
Physical impairments
Mania
Delirium
Arthritis
Psychosis
Heart disease
Substance misuse
Diabetes
Given these and other unique challenges, it becomes even more imperative that we communicate effectively with patients, each other, and within our teams.
Features of effective communication include:
Did you know....
"Communication failures are among the most frequent causes of harmful medical errors. An estimated 67% of communication errors relate to handoffs."
Source: Joint Commission, 2024
Documentation
Adult 2 is a great unit!
INFO
BHSs and RNs should take advantage of sharing valuable information with our colleagues from other teams in a variety of ways. Click each "INFO" button for more information.
Shift report
INFO
INFO
Treatment Team
INFO
Let's look at effective communication strategies.
We communicate through multiple avenues at any one given time. These include our body language, facial expressions, movements and postures, and even our attire. Hover over the radio buttons below to review specific strategies.
Showing empathy
Active listening
Respect and dignity
Patient education
Plain language
Finally, let's also look at ineffective communication styles.
Several styles of communication are considered "ineffective," when we're considering interactions with patients. This is true even though we may be well-intentioned. Hover over the radio buttons below to review specific examples of ineffective styles.
False reassurance
Giving advice
Stereotypes
Asking "why"
Arguing
Approval
Resources
American Nurses Association. (2023). Teamwork in nursing: Team-Building strategies for better patient care. ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/nursing-leadership/teamwork-in-nursing/ Ernstmeyer, K., & Christman, E. (2022). Table 2.3b, [Nontherapeutic Responses [],[]]. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK590036/table/ch2communication.T.nontherapeutic_respon/ Joint Commission. (2024). Reducing handoff communication failures and inequities in healthcare. Jointcommission.org. https://www.jointcommission.org/en-us/knowledge-library/news/2024-08-reducing-handoff-communication-failures-and-inequities-in-healthcare Luisa-Maria Michiu. (2024, February 13). Communication Strategies for Effective Patient Interaction. Rosseducation.edu. https://rosseducation.edu/new-students/communication-strategies-for-effective-patient-interaction.php Sharkiya, S. H. (2023). Quality communication can improve patient-centred health outcomes among older patients: A rapid review. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), 1–14. BMC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09869-8
Thank you
for the care you deliver at VPH!
Health outcomes are optimized when all of our disciplines are represented for the treatment team. Ensure that Nursing is represented well which is inclusive of the BHS with pertinent information. A culture of mutual respect and shared decision-making is the goal with treatment team planning. In addition to improved outcomes for our patients when we form effective treatment teams, the camaraderie that we built as members only makes us stronger- individually and collectively.
Document descriptive and factual information about your patient to share with Social Work and MD colleagues. Especially on Adult 2, our treatment team utilizes information about participation levels, engagement, interactivity, and goal setting/progression to help formulate the treatment plan. This type of information is also instrumental with discharge planning and perhaps, future placement. For example, describe in greater detail the level of assistance needed with ADLs and the patient's ability to assist with those. Describe challenges met with delivering care and related patient responses. Chart exceptions. Document information relative to deviations from the patients norm or baseline. As another example for nurses, in addition to charting a Broset score, describe agitation in greater detail and any associated characteristics.
Provide a thorough, concise, and comprehensive shift report for oncoming colleagues for each patient. Utilize the SBAR format: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. SBAR helps to improve verbal communication and reduce medical errors. SBAR is a communication tool, not a report of a patient's full health history or reviews of comprehensive exams. All RNs and BHSs should attend change of shift report in order to ensure that we are communicating key information.