1. In terms of communication, I have seen improvements with my assertiveness and confidence. Starting the semester off, I was very nervous to speak up and answer a question, even if I knew it was right. When I would say something, it would be quick and quiet. I remember the very first day, my clinical instructor commented on my communication skills and asked me to focus on working on them. Her comment made me aware of my nonverbal communication and how this affected what kind of nurse I would become. Along with communicating with my peers and instructors, I have grown in communicating with patients, which I think came from spending a lot of time in the hospital due to both clinical and my PCA job. I remember my first week at clinical interacting with a patient. It’s almost like I froze and couldn’t get any sentences out. As I became more comfortable in the hospital setting, I noticed myself communicating better with these patients that I had just met. Now I find it much simpler to strike up conversations; patients really are just normal people in abnormal circumstances.
2. Although I have seen improvement in my nonverbal communication skills, I know that I still have plenty to work on such as posture, facial expressions, and gestures. I think that as a nurse, I can better show support and advocate for my patients if I show effective communication skills with the patients, their family members and other professions involved in their care. Without effective communication, I cannot practice safely as a nurse. I am glad to have learned all of these communication skills in this class and am looking forward to applying them to my current and future jobs.