COMMUNICATION AND WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE IN THE OPERATING ROOM

BY EUNICE K’AMIMO

KRPON

KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?

• Communication is the passing of messages or information from one person to another.
• It’s a very important tool in every day’s life and one cannot do without.
• In this presentation we will be looking at the interaction among members of the surgical team and their work place etiquette.

WHY GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT IN THE OPERATING ROOM

• Communication is extremely important to ensure safe and effective clinical practice.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, are needed throughout the perioperative experience to educate patients undergoing surgery and so ease their anxiety and aid in speedy recovery.
• In addition, good communication with theatre colleagues, the multidisciplinary team, and other departments is vital to achieving technical excellence and individualized holistic patient care.

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WHY GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT IN THE OPERATING ROOM……(CONTINUED)

• Effective communication improves teamwork.
• A message must be delivered accurately in a uniquely high-risk and time-sensitive location beset with numerous distractions barriers and challenges.
• Communication enables us to pass information to other people and to understand what is said to us.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Verbal communication.
• Non-Verbal communication(or body language)
• Written Communication e.g. reports
• Formal communication(exchange of official information between people within the operating room)

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD COMMUNICATION IN THE THEATRE NURSES TEAM

• Good communication especially the use of open questioning techniques and active listening with patients and their families or friends can help to address any fears and ease tensions which in turn are beneficial to promote post operative recovery.

WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE

• Etiquette is the code that governs expectations of social behavior in a workplace. This code is put in place to respect and protect time; people and process
• Normally there isn’t a universal agreement about standard work etiquette but it may vary from one environment to another.
• Etiquette is more than just good manners, it's a tool for cultivating good relationships.

PROPER WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE

• PUNCTUALITY – Showing up to work on time. This shows that you respect your job and care about meeting deadlines. Punctuality is synonymous with professionalism.
• Punctuality upholds productivity, people rely on each other so as to achieve their expectation

PROPER WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE

• INTEGRITY- This is the quality of having strong moral principles. Integrity leads to respect which in turn leads to understanding and agreement.
• HONESTY- This is the quality of being truthful and transparent. Do not deceive others by giving out misleading information.
• ACCOUNTABILITY- Accountability is an assurance that an individual or an organization will be evaluated on their performance or behavior related to something for which they are responsible.

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PROPER WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE

• PROFESSIONALISM-Professionalism does not mean wearing a suit or carrying a briefcase; rather, it means conducting oneself with responsibility, integrity, accountability, and excellence. It means communicating effectively and appropriately and always finding a way to be productive

SUMMARY

• Communication and etiquette go hand in hand and if used together aids in improved patient care.
• It’s important to have the entire team perform a briefing before every case and a debriefing at the end of every case by use of a surgical safety check list

THANK YOU