Confirming communication of nurses in interaction with physicians

Communication is an essential component of the theory and practice of nursing. This study used a confirmation/disconfirmation framework to describe the communication characteristics of 40 registered staff nurses videotaped in a decision-making task with a resident physician. Nurses were found to be confirming in 87% of their discourse. Differences in confirmation proportions were not found when educational preparation and sex were examined. Older nurses and nurses with more years of professional experience were more confirming in their communication than younger and less experienced nurses. Implications of the study are discussed.