Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers

Communicating with others is an important part of the job of a nurse assistant. A nurse assistant communicates every day with coworkers, supervisors, residents or patients, and family members. Clear communication helps nurse assistants perform their job duties efficiently.

Communication between two people requires a sender and a receiver of information. The information from a sender is called the message. The first person to express a new piece of information is the sender. The receiver understands the message and responds to the sender. In this way, communication is effective. The sender and receiver can communicate back and forth to give and receive new messages. Communication can be verbal or nonverbal. Verbal communication is spoken. Nonverbal communication includes body language, gestures—movements of hands and arms—and tone of voice.

A nurse assistant uses many methods of communication on the job. She greets her residents or patients verbally (“Good morning!”) and smiles. She gestures with her hands as she helps them move to a chair or wheelchair. She uses eye contact. She asks many questions of her residents or patients, and she confirms their responses by repeating their answers in different ways to make sure she has understood them. Written communication is important on the job too. A nurse assistant writes notes and instructions neatly and clearly on forms so that her supervisor and coworkers can easily read her handwriting.

A nurse assistant uses her communication skills all day long!