Managerial communication in hospital nursing: Obstacles and how to overcome them

Abstract

Aim: understanding communication difficulties facing nurses in their general duties in a hospital context and the strategies used to overcome these difficulties. Method: a descriptive study using a qualitative approach which included 19 nurses from a university hospital, using a vignette and semi-structured interviews for collecting data, and thematic analysis as the technique for data analysis. Results: the participants considered that the main difficulties were: fragmentation of work processes; work shifts; resistance to change and work team involvement. In the light of these problems, a number of workshops and training programs were held covering topics such as communication, formalization of actions/conduct, and optimization of written/verbal communication. Conclusion: the study shows the nurses' need to improve their managerial communication skills by understanding the importance of interpersonal relationship and skills in dealing with people.