Course: Career Communication

Communication is a MUST

Communications should be used to relay information from one location to another, or from one person to another, when it is impossible to communicate face to face. Excellent communication skills are crucial during every phase of an emergency

It is important for you to have a basic idea of how your facility communications system works.

In addition to phone, radio, and oral communications, you must have excellent person-to-person communication skills. You should be able to effectively interact with the patient and any family members, friends, or bystanders.

It is important for you to remember that people who are sick or injured may not understand what you are doing or saying. Therefore, your body language and attitude are very important in gaining the trust of both the patient and the family. You must also take special care of individuals such as children, geriatric patients, hearing-impaired and visually impaired patients, non–English-speaking patients, developmentally disabled patients, and persons displaying disruptive behavior.

Documentation provides a legal record of the actions you took and provides a basis to evaluate the quality of care given. Remember that the emergency is not over until the paperwork is completed.