Communication in the Workplace

Communication In The Surgical Workplace

Barbre-Anne Wasdin

Lynn University

Communication In The Surgical Workplace

Introduction and Problem Statement

Communication is critical in the workplace. "Communication is how lives are started, money made, wars begun and ended, freedom realized" (DiMaggio, 2014, June 1). There are several different ways to communicate: verbal communication, body language, and electronic communication. The way you speak to someone or the position of your body can dictate how a person construes a conversation. "It's more than the words you use. It's how and when you choose to share information. It's your body language and the tone and quality of your voice" (Morgan, 2014, September 3). In surgery, there are many people you have to communicate with on a daily basis such as patients, their families, surgeons, nurses, scrub techs and ancillary departments. The purpose of proper communication in the workplace is vital as misplaced information could mean the difference between life, death or severe injury. According to Hynes (2015), "Dale Carnegie was one of the first writers to link communication skill with managerial effectiveness" (p. 175). In our O.R., there are several different sub-departments besides the primary surgical department. There are departments such as endoscopy, sterile processing, pre-assessment, outpatient, and recovery. There are approximately seventy-five to eighty employees, and everyone works various shifts and days. Very rarely is the entire surgical department together at the same time. Sharing information with everyone is tough, not everyone gets the proper information needed promptly. Often the staff only receives vital information if they happen to overhear other personnel discussing it, sometimes this information is discovered only after a situation has arisen or even by accident. According to Kirmeyer (1988), "communication is thus an integral component of each diverse...