ABSTRACT
Culturally appropriate, technically accurate, and emotionally supportive nurse-patient communication is essential for patients to have consistently positive interactions with the healthcare system. Simply put, nurse-patient communication is integral to the quality of the patient experience. Perhaps more than any other healthcare profession, nurses work in environments across the spectrum of healthcare, yet in each situation effective communication is key. From the intensive care unit to labor and delivery to outpatient clinics to in-home hospice care, nurses are front and center when it comes to listening to, assessing, and educating patients. Navigating these exchanges takes skill, experience, and support from the broader healthcare system. As discussed in Chapter 2, communication, when handled well, contributes to a good chance that the patient will see their experience in a positive light. If handled poorly, the chances of an overall positive patient experience diminish.
