Relationships and Communications among Nurses in a Government Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Maintaining a healthy working relationship is often the most difficult thing for some nurses to accomplish in their career. Likewise, excellent communication skills are required. The ability to communicate and connect with patients and health care professionals can help build relationships, prevent mistakes and provide a higher level of care. The researchers sought to explore the relationships and communications within the nursing unit in a government hospital. Methodology: The descriptive method of research was utilized employing the techniques of checklist, interviews, and observations to gather data. The study was limited to the relationships and communications among the nurses in a government hospital along the following areas: nurse-to-nurse relationships, nurse-to-physician relationships, and general relationships and communications. Statistical treatment of data was confined to the frequency and percentage distribution, weighted mean, Kendall’s tau_b, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results & Conclusion: From the significant findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) The nurses have very favorable assessment of the nurse-to-nurse relationships and the general relationships and communications. Moderate degree in terms of nurse-to-physician relationships as they mentioned it is not easy for them to talk openly with the physicians. (2) The nurse-to-nurse relationships, nurse-to-physician relationships, and the general relationships and communications are significantly related to each other. (3) The nurses differ in their assessment of nurse-to-physician relationships across age wherein nurses who are more than 30 years old tend to have favorable relationships with the doctors. Male and female nurses have similar level of assessment as regards relationships and communications are concerned.