Running head: ACTIONS SPEAK FOR US 1

Actions Speak for Us

Elizabeth Keran

Louisiana State University

Authors Note: This paper is written for English 2001, taught by Professor Coco, and its purpose

is to inform nursing students of nonverbal communication techniques.

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Abstract
This paper describes the mode of nonverbal communication and examines the styles of

nonverbal communication and how they could be beneficial in the nursing profession. The

techniques explained in detail are facial expressions, posture, and proxemics. It goes in to detail

the importance of reading facial expressions, the appropriate posture, and the effects of

proxemics in the medical field. This paper portrays how nonverbal communication is vital to

being successful in the career of nursing.

Keywords: communication, nonverbal, body language, nursing, health care

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Preface
For the peer review, I feel like I need work on my abstract. Any suggestions that someone
can make would really be helpful. Also, any editing on my transitions between paragraphs would
be beneficial as well, since that is something I am concerned about. Another concern of mine is
my last sentence in my first paragraph. Also, I need to switch out mindful for other synonyms
that are listed at the top of page 1 because I use the word mindful too often.
I would give myself a 3 in the category of focus. Its to the point about nonverbal
communication. I give myself a 1 in development for I need to add more details to my draft. I
believe my paper is structured well so I give myself a 1.5 in organization. The paragraphs
themselves are in the order I want them to be in, but the ideas in the paragraphs could be
rearranged. I think my paper is appropriate to the audience, which is nursing students. However,
since it is for students learning maybe I should give more examples on how to improve
nonverbal communication. I feel like my strongest paragraph is facial expressions. I think this is
due to this topic being mentioned in almost all of my sources so the information was plentiful.
One thing I need to improve in my essay is my explanation on posture. This paragraph as a
whole needs to be further developed. Also, I wish to include more detail in my pitfall paragraph
and it should help to peer review with someone with my same topic to get ideas from there.
Another way I can improve this essay is making my conclusion stronger.
Peer review showed me specifically where I needed to further develop my ideas. It was
evident that I need to expand in certain areas in the paper and the two editors helped me out a lot
by pin pointing where I needed to do this at. Also, I was told where it sounded awkward so it was
helpful that way I could fix those sentences. It was interesting to read everyone elses paper to
see different takes on the same topic and also to see the different examples and sources they used
for their paper.
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Actions Speak for Us

Introduction

Effective communication is important to build and maintain a healthy relationship

between health care providers and patients. The treatment and overall health of the patients can

be advanced through proper communication methods. Nonverbal communication is a continuous

technique used in the nursing practice. This mode of communication can be defined as anything

communicated without words. Nonverbal communication is conveyed through various ways

including facial expressions, eye contact, posture, proxemics, and physiological changes. Three

important techniques that should be followed to effectively communicate nonverbally are facial

expressions, posture, and proxemics.

Nonverbal Communication Examples

Facial expressions are a cue used in better understanding what someone is trying to

communicate. Facial expressions will vary depending on the person, but it important to be

trained in how to determine what is being expressed. Facial expressions can be broken down into

three categories: positive, neutral, and negative. Positive facial expressions can include: happy,

content, and confident. Neutral expressions include: serious, indifferent, focused, and curious.

Negative facial expressions include: confused, tired, and angry (Body language in health care: a

contribution to nursing communication). It is a necessary skill to be capable of reading a

persons facial expression to determine what message is being conveyed and nurses should

remain observant of patients expressions. Health professionals can obtain a better understanding

of the patients pain, feelings, and knowledge based on reading their facial expressions. Not only

is it important for nurses to understand what the patient is feeling, but it is also vital for the

nurses to express an appropriate facial expression towards their patients. Patients watch the
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health care professional in detail to pick up signs on the situation by viewing facial expressions

made by the health care providers (Lange, 2016). For example, a positive facial expression such

as a happy smile, can put a patient at ease in a situation and let the patient know that the nurse is

confident doing her job. Patients feelings are directly related to the persona the nurse gives off

through her nonverbal cues. Health care professionals need to be mindful of their own facial

expressions along with the patients facial expressions to successfully communicate nonverbally.

Another approach to nonverbal communication is appropriate posture. Depending on the

way one is sitting or standing can convey a certain message on how that person feels. According

to Seppala, a person whose arms are crossed over his chest would appear distant compared to

someone with his chest open (2017). This is important to take into consideration as a health care

provider. Correct posture can allow for the patient to feel more comfortable in a situation where

the health care provider seemed more connected to the situation at hand. Nurses should remain

attentive to their posture for this reasoning. Also, in the article Nursing and the importance of

body language, it describes how a power stance can make someone perform better and appear

more confident. This power stance looks similar to one of a super hero chest out, hands on

hips, and head up staring forward (2016). This position can ultimately result in a more confident

appearance to patients and also, lower stress levels of the health care professional. With the ideal

body posture in place, the nurse and the patient can build a relationship easier because the health

care provider looks confident and active in the situation.

Proxemics is the distance spaced between two communicators. The distance spaced

between the nurse and the patient is a vital aspect that nurses must be aware of at all times. The

National Council of State Boards of Nursing recommends Nurses should make every effort to

respect the power imbalance and ensure a patient-centered relationship. (2014). In the situation
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that nurses have more knowledge than the patients, it is necessary for the nurse to not make the

patient know and feel this way. In an effort to even out the playing field, it is recommended that

the nurses sit down to be on the same level as the patient for a more intimate relationship. The

fact that the nurse is not standing over the patient is a nonverbal cue showing that the nurse does

not feel superior over the patient. Sitting down also establishes the idea that the nurse has more

time with the patient. The University of Kansas Hospital conducted a study showing that patients

felt the health care provider spent more time at the bedside if they were sitting as to when the

provider was standing, although the time spent by the bedside was the exact same. Although the

times spent with the patient were the same, the message communicated by the nurses that sat

down was more caring and attentive feelings towards the patient (Swayden et al., 2012). This is

important to express to the patients that nurses are giving them their undivided attention when it

comes to medical care. Nurses should remain mindful of this technique.

Common Pitfalls

Health care professionals find it is more difficult to maintain proper nonverbal

communication and picking up clues from patients during taxing times (Kourkouta &

Papathanasiou, 2014). Taxing times can be anything from limited staff to medical emergency

with time constraints. With this being said, health care providers should be conscious and aware

of the message he or she is expressing with patients at all times. It is important for nurses to

assess the body language being conveyed with their patients and ensure that the messages being

expressed through body language, posture, and distance spaced are fitting what the professional

is trying to communicate. One disadvantage of nonverbal communication is misinterpreting the

signs being expressed. Warm, bubbly character can be misunderstood for being inappropriate in

the workplace (Fried & Dalonges, 2016). It is vital for health care professionals to feel out the
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situation and make certain no inappropriate boundaries are being crossed between them and the

patients. Nonverbal communication has the ability to be used inappropriately, but it is the health

care providers job to remain professional in his workplace and to use this mode of

communication effectively.

Conclusion

Overall, it is essential for health care providers to be conscious of the nonverbal

communication being exchanged between them and their patients. Nonverbal communication

can fill in the gaps that other communication modes do not provide. This is essential to give the

utmost care and attention to the patients, as well as, improving the overall treatment of all

patients in the health setting. Nonverbal communication, in nurses, is vital for effective medical

care, and it is evident the benefits that come from this mode of communication.
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References
Fried, ja, & Dalonges, D. (2016). Creating Immediacy Using Verbal and Nonverbal Methods.
The Journal of Dental Hygiene, 90(4), 221225.

Kourkouta, L., & Papathanasiou, I. V. (2014). Communication in nursing practice. , 26(1), .

Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3990376/#ref13

Lange, C. (2016, April). Nursing and the importance of body language. Nursing2016

National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2014, August ). Retrieved February 22, 2017,
from National Council of State Boards of Nursing,
https://www.ncsbn.org/ProfessionalBoundaries_Complete.pdf

Rezende RC, Oliveira RMP, Araujo STC, Guimaraes TCF, Espirito Santo FH, Porto IS. Body
language in health care: a contribution to nursing communication. Rev Bras Enierm.
2015;68(3):430-6.

Seppala, E. (2017, January 20). When Giving Critical Feedback, Focus on Your Nonverbal Cues.
Harvard Business Review

Swayden, K., Anderson, K., Connelly, L., Moran, J., McMahon, J., & Arnold, P. (2012). Effect of
sitting vs. Standing on perception of provider time at bedside: A pilot study. Patient
education and counseling., 86(2), 16671. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21719234