When an employee is given a task they have the

of communication with precise directions given. When an employee is given a task, they have
the responsibility to ensure it is something that they can/willing to do, this can be done by
analyzing the situation. If the task is within their realm they then take the responsibility of the
task and become accountable for what is being done. Being able to determine the risk and
outcome of a situation will allow for positive accountability with no issues occurring on behalf
of the employee. In the health care system, an employee’s accountability is measured in different
ways, both, internally and externally. Some of those measures are done through patient
satisfaction surveys, annual reviews, assessments and checks and balances that are done. All
employees, regardless of their level or title should be subjected
to accountability measures (Schattan Coelho, 2018).
Communication
According to Thornton, Powe, Roter & Cooper (2011), effective communication plays a
vital role in successful execution of quality patient care. Communication involves an exchange of
information either verbally (telephonic and face-to-face), written (email, educational materials
and written correspondence), or non-verbally (body language, tone of voice and gestures). When
communication is made between more than two people it is referred to as interpersonal
communication and directly impacts patient and organizational outcomes. Patients have reported
that despite clinicians being present at the bed-side, they feel a lack of interpersonal connection
resulting in decreased patient satisfaction. By exploring evidenced-based studies, clinical leaders
can identify factors that influence communication and implement strategies to improve
nurse/patient communication for better outcomes.
Various factors influence communication including perception, attitudes, roles,
development, and culture. In order to understand factors of communication both within an

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WORKPLACE CULTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT
organization and with the patient, there are several aspects to explore during the communication
decision process for transmission of information. Identify what information needs to be given to
the patient. Assessing the urgency of information will determine which method of
communication will be used (face-to-face, telephonic, written). Next, evaluate words and tone
used to explain information to the patient. Understanding the patient’s attitude, culture and
development is detrimental in this process. One would not speak to a young adult present with a
parent in the same manner as a mature adult with no family present. The final step in the
communication transmission process is evaluating personal feelings about the information being
communicated (Motley & Dolansky, 2015). In the workplace it may be feelings towards a
conflict or communication with a superior, and in the clinical setting it may be feelings of
happiness or negative emotions based on a patient’s conditions. One must attempt to set personal
emotion aside to avoid offsetting deliverance of communication to the intended recipient. These
decisions bridge over to how the recipient responds and what barriers may be faced.