National Survey on Essential Communication Skills to Address Language Demands in Canadian Nursing Practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Healthcare Communication
• Professional Development

Background:

• Effective communication is vital for safe healthcare delivery and positive patient interactions.
• Nurses require specific communication skills to navigate diverse clinical environments and patient needs.
• Existing frameworks for nursing communication skills in Canada are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and define key communication skills essential for Canadian nursing practice.
• To develop a comprehensive framework for nursing communication demands.
• To inform the creation of targeted educational curricula and professional development programs.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative, nationwide survey research.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to identify underlying skill dimensions.
• Multiple regression analyses to assess demographic and contextual influences.

Main Results:

• Key dimensions of effective communication skills in nursing were identified.
• Demographic and contextual factors had a minor impact on perceived skill importance.
• Language demands appear relatively consistent across different nursing roles and settings.

Conclusions:

• A novel framework for Canadian nursing communication demands has been established.
• This framework supports the development of tailored curricula, assessments, and policies.
• The study provides a foundation for enhancing nursing communication training and improving health outcomes.