Power of language in a ward for the care of older people

This study examines nurse-patient interaction in a ward caring for older patients. The role of language in exerting control over patients is explored and the research confirms previous work which revealed that most of the observed interactions were brief, superficial and related to tasks. An inherent tension in the quality of communication expected from nurses and that which actually occurs is identified. It is recommended that attention to language, as a specific component of communication, is vital if nurses are to develop the skills necessary to interact with patients in a manner consistent with the demands of contemporary thinking in nursing.