Using proper online etiquette, respond to the postings of 2 classmates. Discuss the style of communication of each classmate. Also discuss ways in which this style is useful in a professional clinical scenario. You must include citations from your textbook in support of the content being discussed.

this pertains to nursing.

Our text, Crucial Conversations, gives a great tool in assessing our style when its comes to dialogue that can be disastrous.  The tool first calculates if you revert to silence or violence episodes of intense conversations.  For me, I am one who reverts to silence.  I scored a zero in the violence category. I also found, through use of this tool, that I am good at determining when a crucial conversation is starting.  I have physical symptoms that give me that inclination, Kerry Patterson and his co-authors (2012) discussed the physical symptoms that manifest when conversations get difficult. I recollect only a very few instances that I have been able to control these indicators and come out on top.  Most of the time, however, I stay quiet and just accept what the other person has to say and go about my way.  For me, I would rather “go with the flow” than cause an uproar or harsh feelings. My greatest issue with crucial conversations, the thing that keeps me silent, is the fact that I feel that once I make a valid point, I cannot handle the opposition that may come my way after the point is made. 

In the clinical setting, remaining silent during the time of a crucial conversation can cause detrimental effects to the patient.  Like Patterson (2012) states, in chapter one, it can put the patient’s safety at risk. Also, remaining silent during hard dialogue, could give the patient and families the wrong impression of your knowledge as a nurse. They may feel that you are not competent in your skill set and the nurse-patient relationship will not be a trusting one; the patient’s compliance may be diminished because they fear that you do not have enough knowledge base to instruct or care for them. I am not an argumentative person, so for me the benefits of keeping silent is that it avoids all conflict and emotional uproar. It keeps harsh feelings between patients and co-workers at bay. However, these benefits do not out weigh the harmful effects, and I should be careful to accept a crucial conversation as a time to increase patient safety and patient/family satisfaction. 

Paul teaches us how to focus our minds and set our hearts on the right path, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever thingsare noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8 New King James Version). If we focus our minds on these things, then our intentions in crucial conversations will always be correct.  Secondly, in the book of Proverbs we find much wisdom relating to how to remain calm and focused. It gives us great insight such as:  the wise person is slow to anger (Prov. 14:29), gentle answers turn away wrath (Prov. 15:1), and the person with understanding remains calm and chooses his words wisely (Prov. 17:27). I am hoping this class, through our discussions and reading the text, will help me control my physical responses causing more clarity of my thoughts during crucial conversations.

Reference

Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler. (2012).  Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High (2^nd ed.).  New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.