EFFECTIVE NURSE-PHYSICIAN

COMMUNICATION
Tammie Luman, RN, BSN
Parrish Medical Center

EFFECTIVE NURSE-PHYSICIAN
COMMUNICATION

Purpose of this course:

To provide graduate nurses with the knowledge, skills
and tools necessary to effectively and
appropriately communicate with physicians

EFFECTIVE NURSE-PHYSICIAN
COMMUNICATION
Objectives: Following the 2 hour presentation on
effective nurse-physician communication, the
graduate nurse will be able to:
1. List at least three barriers to effective

communication.
2. Describe at least two instances when its
appropriate to contact a physician.
3. Discuss the importance of using the SBAR method
when communicating.

EFFECTIVE NURSE PHYSICIAN

COMMUNICATION

4. Anticipate questions the physician may pose

regarding a patient.
5. Employ tips for effective communication while
participating in role playing scenarios.

USE R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
R-Recognize when to call
E-Express yourself clearly and calmly
S-Share all pertinent information
P-Plan for questions and have answers
E-Examine your patient and the chart
C-Confidence gets results
T-Teamwork is the key

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR

PHYSICIAN
Are they new to the hospital?

if so, they may not be familiar with

policies, procedures or standing orders
Level of experience-Intern, hospitalist

are they covering for another doctor?

Do they know your patient?
Do they know you?
As you get to know them and they get to know
you, it gets easier to communicate

CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION

Be familiar, respectful and aware of cultures
Body language may vary from culture to culture-

dont make assumptions

Always be professional and polite
Dont be afraid to ask physician for clarification
Always use telephone order read back (TORB) or
verbal order read back (VORB)when receiving
orders
Embrace differences and work together

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
Verbal and nonverbal
Change in medical status/condition
Patient and/or family requesting doctor be called
Consulting doctor requesting you notify
To obtain orders
Critical labs
Update on patient condition

BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
Noise
Dialect
Voice projection and or tone of voice
Emotions and Stress
Prior bad experience
Too much or too little information
Lack of sleep
Lack of knowledge and/or confidence

PHYSICIAN CALLS
Consulting doctors wanting history on

patient-reason behind consult

Questions
Telephone rounds
Patient update
New orders
Transfers or discharges

PLACING THE CALL

Use the Before calling the doctor tip card

SBAR format
Read physician progress notes
Timing: is it something that can wait until the

doctor rounds or does it need to be addressed now?

Identify correct doctor for specific need, patient,
lab value or situation

REVIEW OF TIP CARD-SIDE 1

Make sure you cant solve the issue, using your resources
Investigate patient complaints & symptoms by talking with

patient, family, & other staff

Review orders and recent labs
Have the chart in front of you
Review flow sheets from past 2-3shifts looking for trends
Understand diagnosis-both physiologic & psychological
issues related to it
Review the latest progress notes

REVIEW OF TIP CARD-SIDE 2

ANTICIPATE questions physician might ask

write down your answers

SPECIFICS FOR DIAGNOSIS:
Write down pertinent lab results
Blood sugars, if applicable
Know patient meds/times last dose given
Family issues or concerns
ADVOCATE for your patient! Have some ideas
and suggestions written down and
ready for physician consideration.

EFFECTIVE NURSE-PHYSICIAN
COMMUNICATION

S-B-A-R
S-Situation
B-Background
A-Assessment
R-Recommendation

EFFECTIVE NURSE PHYSICIAN

COMMUNICATION

TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING

Always identify yourself
Identify/verify the patient by name
Identify unit & floor
Collect your thoughts (right them down) before you

call the physician

Be concise with information, have pertinent data
available, best to have chart and be by a computer
in the event the doctor wants additional results
Sound confident even if you dont feel it-be your
patients advocate

TIPS CONTINUED
Try to avoid ending your sentences with a question
Keep your cool even if they dont, sometimes they

just want to vent about the situation and it may not

be directed at you.
If they sound frustrated try to re-focus the
conversation on the patient.
If you make a mistake its ok, but its better not to
make excuses, acknowledge your mistake and move
on, example: I apologize, I will know that next
time, but what can we do for the patient, I still
need.

ROLE PLAYING SCENARIOS