Reframing communication with physicians as sensemaking: moving the conversation along

Area of Science:

• Healthcare communication
• Patient safety
• Cognitive science

Background:

• Poor communication between physicians and nurses is a leading cause of adverse patient events and sentinel events.
• Differing perspectives between physicians and nurses on effective communication contribute to these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe sensemaking as a cognitive process to build consensus between physicians and nurses.
• To address the differing perspectives on communication and improve patient safety.

Main Methods:

• The article describes the cognitive process of sensemaking.
• Sensemaking involves nurses and physicians collaboratively answering key questions about patient situations.
• It emphasizes bringing diverse opinions to bear on situations framed by salient cues.

Main Results:

• Sensemaking facilitates consensus by engaging both physicians and nurses in shared understanding.
• This process moves beyond basic communication to active interpretation and decision-making.
• It requires considering diverse viewpoints within the context of critical patient information.

Conclusions:

• Sensemaking offers a framework to improve physician-nurse communication and reduce adverse events.
• By fostering a shared understanding, sensemaking can mitigate risks associated with differing perspectives.
• Implementing sensemaking can enhance patient safety in hospital settings.