Communication between nurses and post-anaesthetic patients

This paper explores the verbal and non-verbal communication between nurses and post-anaesthetic patients in the recovery unit of an inner London hospital. Although the patients had only minor operations the study findings and the method of conversation analysis provide ideas which could have wider relevance in intensive care. A video camera was used to record nurses' conversations with dental patients recovering from their operations. The resultant tape was studied for the utterances and body movement used by the nurses in order to engage the patient in conversation. Analysis indicated that the nurses were skilled communicators who took into account the patients' low level of consciousness and lack of physical orientation when initiating and maintaining interaction. This is an important factor in the care of post-anaesthetic patients, as the recovery nurse may need to gain the patient's attention to converse with him for a variety of reasons, including safety and the need to orientate the patient to his environment in order to reduce anxiety (Mallett, 1986). The ability of the nurse to communicate successfully is, therefore, one of the prerequisites for adequate nursing care in the Recovery Unit. In addition, the notion of therapeutic communication as a separate entity to skillful conversation is raised.