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76 unit 2 | Working Within the Organization CikguOnline
and cultural influences also impede communication. most nurses (Dee, 2005). Additional benefits of
Previous life experiences and preconceived ideas computerized systems for health-care applications
about other cultures also influence how people are listed in Box 6-2 (Arnold & Pearson, 1992;
communicate. Hebda, Czar, & Mascara, 1998).
Semantic Barriers E-Mail
Semantic refers to the meaning of words. Today, most institutions use e-mail. Using e-mail
Sometimes, no matter how great the effort, the competently and effectively requires writing skills;
message just does not get across.For example,words the same communication principles apply to both
such as neat, cool, and bad, may convey meanings e-mail and letter writing. Remember, when com-
other than those intended. Many individuals have municating by e-mail, you are not only making an
learned English as a second language and therefore impression but also leaving a written record
understand only the literal meaning of certain (Shea, 2000).
words. For example, to many people, cool means The rules for using e-mail in the workplace are
interesting, unique, or clever (e.g., “This is a cool somewhat different than for using e-mail among
way to find the vein.”). To someone for whom the friends. Much of the humor and wit found in per-
word cool refers only to temperature (e.g., “It is cool sonal e-mail is not appropriate for the work setting.
outside.”), the preceding statement would make Professional e-mail may remain informal.
very little sense. However, the message must be clear, concise, and
courteous.Think about what you need to say before
Gender Barriers you write it. Then write it, read it, and reread it.
Men and women develop dissimilar communication Once you are satisfied that the message is clear and
skills and are inclined to communicate differently. concise, send it.
Often, they give different meanings to conveyed Many executives read personal e-mail sent to
information or feelings. This may be related to them, which means that it is often possible to
psychosocial development.Boys learn to use commu- contact them directly. Many systems make it easy
nication as a way to negotiate and to develop inde- to send e-mail to everyone at the health-care
pendence, whereas girls use communication to con- institution. For this reason, it is important to
firm, minimize disparities, and create or strengthen keep e-mail professional. Remember the “chain
closeness (Blais, Hayes, Kozier, & Erb, 2002). of command”: always go through the proper
channels.
The fact that you have the capability to send
Communication With Colleagues e-mail instantly to large groups of people does not
necessarily make sending it a good idea. Be careful
Information Systems and E-Mail
if you have access to an all-company mailing list. It
Computerized Systems is easy to send an e-mail throughout the system
Communication through the use of computer tech-
nology is rapidly growing in nursing practice. A
study conducted by KPMG–Peat Marwick of
box 6-2
health-care systems that used bedside terminals
Potential Benefits of Computer-Based
found that medication errors and use of patient call
Patient Information Systems
bells decreased and nurse productivity increased.
• Increased hours for direct patient care
The use of electronic patient records allows health-
• Patient data accessible at bedside
care providers to retrieve and distribute patient • Improved accuracy and legibility of data
information precisely and quickly.Decisions regard- • Immediate availability of all data to all members of the
ing patient care can be made more efficiently with team
less waiting time. Information systems in many • Increased safety related to positive patient identification,
improved standardization, and improved quality
organizations also provide opportunities to access
• Decreased medication errors
current, high-quality clinical and research data to • Increased staff satisfaction
support evidence-based practice. Unfortunately,
Adapted from Arnold, J., & Pearson, G. (eds.). (1992). Computer Applications
these rich resources are still underutilized by in Nursing Education and Practice. N.Y.: National League for Nursing.