Korean J Adult Nurs.  2014 Jun;26(3):352-361. 10.7475/kjan.2014.26.3.352.

Intensive Care Unit Nurse's Communication Experience

• Won YH
• Kang J

• KMID: 2351618
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2014.26.3.352

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore the communication experience of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in the workplace.
METHODS
The present study utilized a qualitative approach using focus group interview method. A total of three focus groups of 15 ICU nurses from two university hospitals were formed. The conversations during the focus group interviews were recorded and analyzed through Colaizzi's phenomenological method.
RESULTS
As a result of analyzing participants' conversation, Five theme clusters were elicited, namely, "one-way communication", "differences in the position of senior and junior nurses", "communication crisis", "beginning of understanding", and "movement toward change" out of 15 themes and 138 significant sentences.
CONCLUSION
ICU nurses report having experienced communication crisis because of the one-way communication of the ICU nursing environment and the hierarchical differences in junior and senior nurses' position. Systematic education and continuous training on communication skills need to be provided to improve interpersonal relationship among nurses and work environment in the ICUs.

MeSH Terms

Education
Focus Groups
Hospitals, University
Intensive Care Units*
Nursing
Qualitative Research

Reference

American Association of Critical Care Nurse. 2005. AACN standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments: A journey to excellence. American Journal of Critical-Care Nurse. 14:187––197.

Brunetto Y.., Farr-Wharton R.., Shacklock K.2011. Supervisor-subordinate communication relationships, role ambiguity, autonomy and affective commitment for nurses. Contemporary Nurse. 39:227––239. http://dx.doi.org/10.5172/conu.2011.227.

Canam C. J.2008. The link between nursing discourses and nurses' silence: Implications for a knowledge-based discourse for nursing practice. Advances in Nursing Science. 31:296––307. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.ANS.0000341410.25048.d8.

Ceravolo D. J.., Schwartz D. G.., Foltz-Ramos K. M.., Castner J.2012. Strengthening communication to overcome lateral violence. Journal of Nursing Management. 20:599––606. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2012.01402.x.

Duddle M.., Boughton M.2007. Intraprofessional relations in nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 59:29––37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04302.x.

Garon M.2012. Speaking up, being heard: registered nurses' perceptions of workplace communication. Journal of Nursing Management. 20:361––371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01296.x.

Happ M. B.., Garrett K.., Thomas D. D.., Tate J.., George E.., Houze M., et al. 2011. Nurse-patient communication interactions in the intensive care unit. American Journal of Critical Care. 20(2):28––40. http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2011433.

Henrikson K.., Dayton E.2006. Organizational silence and hidden threats to patient safety. Health Service Research. 41:1539––1554. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00564.x.

Im D. S.., Jo M. H.2007. The study on stress, hardiness, and professional burnout of intensive care unit nurses. Korean Journal of Fundamentals of Nursing. 14:120––127.

Jo N. O.., Hong Y. S.., Kim H. S.2001. Study of nurse's interpersonal conflict and communication. Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education. 27:369––378.

Jo Y. A.., Kim K. S.2013. Effects of assertiveness training for ICU nurses. Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research. 19:255––264.

Jo Y. A.., Kim K. S.., Kim E. S.., Park H. M.., Yu I.., Im E. O., et al. 2009. A correlational study on ICU nurses' job stress, the way of coping, and the turnover intention. Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research. 15:129––141.

Johlke M.., Duhan D.2000. Supervisor communication practices and service employee job outcomes. Journal of Services Research. 3:154––165.

Kacmar K.., Witt L.., Zivnuska S.., Gully S.2003. The interactive effect of leader-member exchange and communication frequency on performance ratings. Journal of Applied Psychology. 88:764––772. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.4.764.

Kim J. L.2009. Perception of doctor and nurse on inter-professional collaboration in hospital ward. Unpublished master's thesis, Hanyang University, Seoul.

Kim K.., Shin K.., Kim S.., You E.., Kim N.., Park E., et al. 2005. Qualitative research methodology. Seoul: Hyumoonsa.

Kim S. J.., Kim H. J.., Lee K. J.., Lee S. O.2000. Research methodology of focus group. Seoul: Hyumoonsa.

Kim Y. S.., Park J. H.., Lim K. Y.2006. Interpersonal conflicts and communication among medical residents, nurses and technologists. Korean Journal of Hospital Management. 11:16––31.

Lee H. S.., Kim J. K.2006. Relationship among communication competence. communication types, and organizational commitment in hospital nurse. Journal of Korean Nursing Administration Academic Society. 16:488––496.

Lee K.2006. Communication problems and solutions at the health care facilities. Journal of Korean Academy on Communication in Health Care. 1:33––45.

Lee S. H.., Jeong S. E.2007. The experience of verbal violence between nurses. Journal of Qualitative Research. 8:79––89.

Miller P. A.2001. Nurse-physician collaboration in an intensive care unit. American Journal of Critical Care. 10:341––350.

Park H. J.., Kang H. S.., Kim K. H.., Kwon H. J.2011. Exposure to workplace violence and coping in intensive care unit nurses. Journal of Korean Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Academic Society. 20:291––301.

Peggy R.., Driver E.2009. Patients' perception of nurse' skill. Critical Care Nurse. 29:24––38. http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ccn2009241.

Roberts S. J.., Demarco R.., Griffin A.2009. The effect of oppressed group behaviours on the culture of the nursing workplace: A review of the evidence and interventions for change. Journal of Nursing Management. 17:288––293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2008.00959.x.

Saint S.., Fowler K. E.., Krein S. L.., Flanders S. A.., Bodnar T. W.., Young E., et al. 2013. An academic hospitalist model to improve healthcare worker communication and learner education: Results from a quasi-experimental study at a veterans affairs medical center. Journal of Hospital Medicine. 8:702––710. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jhm.2105.

Schmalenberg C.., Kramer M.2009. Nurse-physician relationships in hospital: 20000 nurse tell their story. Critical Care Nurse. 29:74––83. http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ccn2009436.

Seo I. A.., Park K. M.., Lee B. S.2003. Relations between the types of communication and job satisfaction and nursing performance in staff nurses. Korean Society of Public Health Nursing. 17:317––332.

Timmins F.., McCabe C.2005. How assertive are nurses in the workplace? A preliminary pilot study. Journal of Nursing Management. 13:61––67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2004.00492.x.

Weigand M. L.2012. Nurse-to-nurse communication in home health. Pennsylvania Nurse. 67:19––22.