150 Essential Skills for Health Careers Success
Personal Territory and Touch
There are various types of touch, and each type can be received in
many ways. Touch can be comforting—such as a pat on the back—or it
can be offensive, possibly leading to a sexual harassment lawsuit. People
who have experienced sexual abuse or other traumatic experiences may
not want to be touched at all. You must be extremely careful when using
touch as a communication tool.
In today’s society lawsuits fl ourish, and any touching without a per-
son’s consent could be mistaken for something unwanted. Touch should
be used with great caution. While providing care, many healthcare work-
ers have to enter a patient’s intimate space and should be sensitive to the
patient’s reaction.
Although a common method of greeting is the handshake, it is not
appropriate in many situations in the healthcare facility. Handshakes are
typically avoided to help reduce the spread of infection among the patients
and healthcare workers.
The type and amount of touching that is appropriate varies with cul-
ture, age, gender, and family background. Some families hug every time
they part, while others rarely hug. In some cultures and in many of the
healing arts, touch is used to promote healing.
If you want to communicate more successfully in all areas of your life,
you should strive to become more sensitive to body language and other
nonverbal cues. This sensitivity will help you be more in tune with the
thoughts and feelings of others. You also need to be aware of the signals
you are sending, to ensure that the messages you are sending match what
you really want to communicate.
Active Listening Skills
When you think of communication, listening skills may not immedi-
ately come to mind. However, listening is a key element in all communica-
tion. If you do not receive the message that is being sent, communication
has not taken place. If you understand how to be a good listener, you will
be a far better healthcare worker, spouse, friend, and communicator.
As you learned in chapter 5, active listening is not the same as simply
hearing what has been said. Active listening is the decision to be fully atten-
tive and to understand the intent of the speaker. It requires physical and men-
tal attention, energy, concentration, and discipline. As part of your career in
healthcare, you will be attending meetings, following directions from your
supervisor, working with patients, and giving and receiving feedback.
Strategies for Active Listening
Applying the following active listening strategies can help you build
effective relationships in school, in the healthcare environment, and in life.