Nursing communication skills in preoperative care

Abstract

Nursing communication skills are critical. As most patients have little understanding about the medical procedures, many patients may feel confused about what is happening around them. Nurses with excellent communication skills can help reassure patients, understand their needs during preoperative care.Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess nursing communication skills in preoperative care and to look at disparities in nurses' communication skills based on sociodemographic factors.Methods: A descriptive study with a purposive sample of (N=104) nurses was conducted. This sample is distributed throughout two hospitals regarding to the Babylon Health Directorate. The questionnaire consists of )45 (items. The reliability of the questionnaire was verified by conducting a pilot study and submitting it to a list of experts in nursing field. Data was obtained using self-report and a questionnaire, then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.Results: The findings revealed that (45.2%) of nurses’ expressed a moderate level of communication skills with the surgical patients. The nurses’ communication skills are significantly associated with their gender (p=0.000), education level (p=0.000), years of experience in surgical wards (p=0.007) and number of training sessions (p=0.000).