ANA\C The Nursing Voice Summer 2019

10  . The Nursing Voice . Summer 2019 Communication & Engagement Report By Derrick Hernandez, MSN, BSN, RN, PHN—Communications and Engagement Coordinator From an early age, we have been taught on how to communicate with one another in a variety of capacities. Since birth, we develop the ability to communicate from our parents, in which we eventually gain the ability to properly ask for what we need and want. As adults, I’m sure we can be all in agreement that we can recall a memory where we had to speak amongst our peers. For many of us, our first taste in how to inform or persuade our audience was in our public speaking class or even during the interview process as a new- graduate nurse. As the professional nurse in the healthcare setting, we learn that our patients communicate with us more than just with words, but by action. Patients are often in stressful situations when they are seeking care at the clinic or hospital and have mixed or negative emotions. Putting oneself in their position can help us understand where patients are coming from. Simple actions, such as sitting at a patient’s bedside at eye level, assures patients that you are engaged and have their full attention. Moving from the bedside to the educator role, communication has had an ever-greater importance. Compounding what was learned at the bedside, educators communicate concerns and caring by their tone of voice and use of body language. In gen- eral, people want to be heard. If an educator shows interest in a student’s opinions, that student will feel their ideas are appre- ciated. It is important that an educator improves a student’s self-esteem and confidence. One way of doing this is to ask ques- tions and clarifying understanding of the material. Using myself as an example, I want to encourage you to grow not only professionally in your workplace, but by becoming a stronger voice for the approximately 500,000 nurses in Califor- nia. As the Communications and Engagement Coordinator for ANA\C, please reach out to me with your thoughts on how our organization can best communicate your interests via email at communications@anacalifornia.org. A special thank you for the tireless effort of our ANA\C Editorial Committee. Without this special group of people, it would not have made The Nursing Voice possible. Contact Derrick— communications@anacalifornia.org