Communication—what to say and when to say it - Membership Committee

AORN Journal,  Nov, 2002  by Barbara Jane Alcock,  Elizabeth Berter,  Judy Hawkins,  Patricia Madsen,  Marion McCall

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* You can be held responsible for what you put in writing. It is surprising how quickly and where e-mail messages may be forwarded and who will see them.

* Keep the message concise. Remember that the screen only shows approximately one-half of a hard copy page. Save longer messages and formal reports for regular mail. In addition, be careful to not abbreviate messages to the point that they lose the original intent.

* Confirm that messages delivered to employment e-mail addresses are allowed by company policy. E-mail is not necessarily confidential, and only public information should be sent using this medium.

* Do not send spare to your readers (ie, do not send unnecessary or frivolous messages). Readers soon will quit opening messages from abusers.

* Do not type in all caps because it will appear as if you are yelling in the written message. Remember, if you emphasize everything, you have emphasized nothing. Use proper grammar to make the message easier to read.

* Use the subject line to get the reader's attention. Use catchy hooks to gain his or her interest.

* Take the time to proofread and use the spelling and grammar tools available in most e-mail software. Even simple typographical errors will make you look sloppy and damage your professional creditability. (10)

CONCLUSION

The success of the Association will depend on how well individuals understand one another. You must understand one another to attain the cooperation essential for accomplishment and progress in perioperative nursing. This understanding will occur more rapidly and to a fuller extent if you ask the right questions and consider the age of those with whom you are attempting to connect. Some common communication barriers easily can derail the tree message you are trying to send. Train yourself to recognize these barriers and provide clear, concise information to those with whom you are trying to communicate.

Humor is an essential element to gain and maintain the interest in the message you are trying to send. Practice using humor as a communication tool, and your message will have a greater chance of being heard.

E-mail has taken on a major role in how personal and business messages are delivered. Be careful that the message you want to send is the one being received. By incorporating all the communication tools discussed, e-mail can be very effective in delivering the right message to the right person at the right time.

In addition, remember that the most powerful communication is not what you say, but rather what you do. Committed people can do almost anything if they have the right tools and understand the reason for what they are doing. Challenges are now before you, so you need to connect and communicate.

BARBARA JANE ALCOCK
RN, BSN, CNOR
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ELIZABETH BERTER
RN, BSN, CNOR

JUDY HAWKINS
RN, CNOR

PATRICIA MADSEN
RN, BSN, CNOR

MARION McCALL
RN, BBA, CNOR, CIC

NOTES

(1.) "How can Scientology[R] principles help me with learning effective communication skills?" Church of Scientology International, http://www.acceptedtraining.org (accessed 24 Sept 2002).