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The Importance of Language for Nursing

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The Importance of Language for Nursing
SCHOLARLY PAPER

THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE FOR NURSING: DOES IT CONVEY COMMONALITY OF MEANING AND IS IT IMPORTANT TO DO SO
Sonia Allen, RN, RM, Grad Dip Hlth Sc (Community), BHSM, MACS, PhD Candidate, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Gippsland Campus, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. sonia.allen@med.monash.edu.au Associate Professor Ysanne Chapman , RN, PhD, MSc(Hons), B Ed (Nsg), GDE, DRM, MRCNA, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Gippsland Campus, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Professor Margaret O’Connor, RN, DN, MN, B Theol, FRCNA, Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Professor Karen Francis, PhD, MEd, M Hlth Sc PHC, Grad Dip Uni Teach/Learn, BHlthSc(Nsg), Dip Hlth Sc, RN, Professor of Rural Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Gippsland Campus, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Accepted for publication January 2007

Key words: language, communication, nurses, patients, meaning, understanding.

ABSTRACT
Objective: Language is the medium by which communication is both conveyed and received. To understand and communicate meaning it is necessary to examine the theoretical basis of word conceptualisation. The determinants of understanding language however are somewhat elusive and idiosyncratic by nature. This paper will examine briefly the development of language and how language is used in the health care setting, while recognising that nursing is an internationally recognised profession. Setting: In nursing, language is used to facilitate quality care and inform and educate recipients of that care. In today’s somewhat litigious society, it is essential that what is transmitted is commonly interpreted by nurses and patients alike. Questions are posed relating to


References: Anon. 1984. Reader’s Digest Illustrated Dictionary. London: Reader’s Digest Associated Limited. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council. 2007. Code of ethics and Code of practice (electronic version). www.anmc.org.au. Reprinted February 2005 2002 (cited 8th March 2007). Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council 2007. Code of ethics and Code of practice (electronic version). www.anmc.org.au. Reprinted February 2005 2003 (cited 8th March 2007). Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council 2007. Code of professional conduct for nurses in Australia. (cited 8th March 2007). Delbridge, A. and Bernard, J.R.L. 1993. The Macquarie Concise Dictionary (2nd ed). Macquarie: The Macquarie Library Pty. Ltd. Gerrish, K. and Lacey, A. 2006. The research process in nursing (5th ed). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Heidegger, M. 1971. Poetry, language, thought. (1st ed). New York: Harper and Row Publishers. Original edition, 1971. Johnson, B.M. and Webber, P.B. 2001. An introduction to theory and reasoning in nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Johnstone, M.J. 2004. Bioethics: a nursing perspective (4th ed). Sydney: Churchill Livingstone. Kinsman, L. 2004. Clinical pathway compliance and quality improvement. Nursing Standard, 18(18):33-35. Lederer, R. 1991. The miracle of language. New York: Simon and Schuster. Melnyk, B.M. and Fineout-Overholt, E. 2005. Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: a guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. O’Connor, M. 2005. Mission statements: an example of exclusive language in palliative care? International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 11(4):190-195. Seal, C. 1999. Researching society and culture in F. Tonkiss (ed) Analysing discourse. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Stein-Parbury, J. 2005. Patient and person: interpersonal skills in nursing (3rd ed). Sydney: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. Stumpf, S.E. and Firser, J. 2003. Philosophy history and problems. New York: McGraw-Hill. Tomey, A.M. and Alligood, M.A. 1998. Nursing theorists and their work (4th ed). St. Louis: Mosby - Williams and Wilkins Pty. Ltd. CONCLUSION The determinants of nursing language have been enunciated within a European context while acknowledging that nursing is an international profession. Communication through language forms an integral part of conveying meaning and understanding for nurses. The relationship between nurses’ language belonging to a particular group does promote power and authority while providing expertise in the specialist areas. Discourse with a group of nurses addressed and identified issues associated with an elitism language while affirming that nursing does have a common language. The demarcation of where common nursing language finishes and exclusive language begins is illusive and thus difficult to determine. While this paper has acknowledged the relevance for nurses of having a common language and using clinical pathways to guide and improve clinical practice through communication; meaning and understanding is still unique to the individual. The question of language used by specialist nurses within specialist units (elite language) has not been identified as essential or necessary for today’s professional nurse. This issue remains unresolved.
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