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Interpersonal Communication Skills
In Class Listening Activity:
The listening activity that we did in class is one of my favorite activities. I did it for training back in August for my current position but we did eight and five minute intervals. That was really difficult, and in those cases I had a harder time being the talker than the listener. I could still tell you details from when I was the listener. For me, I think I could improve upon being more aware of the body language of both me and the person talking. To me, listening means having a good amount of eye contact to show that you’re present, but then you miss everything else, like did they shift in their seat because they’re uncomfortable? Did they smile because they’re talking about something they love?
Reading Reflection:
I think the two that come the most naturally to me are: “the helping relationship takes place by mutual consent” and “the helping relationship shows a clear structure” (pg. 103). I believe those two come the most naturally to me because I’m really big on boundaries. It took me a long time and a lot of miscommunication to understand that it is okay to sit down with someone and say “here are my boundaries” and now it’s my favorite thing, because establishing personal boundaries with someone means you have (hopefully) made clear your expectations and that leads to less miscommunication.
I could work on ” the helping relationship is designed to produce change.” Reflecting back on times I have been in helping relationships, I can see that there was development and change for us as people, but I didn’t go in with the mindset of “change/development is one of our main goals.” I think that by goal setting, either in my own head or with the other person, the helping relationship can be even more helpful.
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Congratulations to Hannah Kim, the President of CI Computer Girls club, for being awarded full scholarship to attend the “2015 ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference”
Way to go Hannah, thank you for proudly representing CI at this prestigious event http://tapiaconference.org/
You hear me but, you are not listening!
Previously participating in the “Listening” activity in class, I believe that there is room for improvement in my listening. What I found from this activity, when giving my undivided attention to any individual I need to be fully engaged. I learned that I need to give individuals more time to speak aside from quickly giving my input. It was interesting to realize how much information I gained just by listening to the speaker for a single minute. I believe in everyday conversations I may speak to much and not listen enough. One aspect of listening I did find rather naturally was my ability to make eye contact. I believe making eye contact if very important because you might be able to comprehend what a speaker is saying by their body language. I feel over the years I’ve grown fond to making eye contact and observing gesture more. One thing I found different was not being able to make any verbal responses, instead I nodded my head. When engaging in a conversation I feel the need to assure that I am listening by throwing in a “mmhmm” or “yeah I get you” so it was different. I’m not sure which would be considered a more correct way.
Out of the ten characteristics associated with a helping relationship, I believe I identify with the following:
- The helping relationship is meaningful
- The helping relationship involves feelings
- The helping relationship demonstrates respect for individual self-worth
- The helping relationship is a collaborative effort
I feel these are characteristics that come naturally because I enjoy learning from new perceptions and at the same time I get to share my perceptions. I also believe I am a sentimental person who can consistently relate or have empathy for someone else’s perceptions. I realize when hearing new perspectives I might have some bias’s. Despite my own bias’s I know I have to show respect to others and be open minded about their perceptions. While being opened minded I feel it is important to let others think creatively while taking a collaborative approach.
Out of the ten characters associated with a helping relationship, I feel I need to improve on the following Characteristics:
- The Peer educator is approachable as a secure person
- The helping relationship shows clear structure
These are the characteristics I feel I can improve on. To begin, I feel like I’m not sure if peers see me as a approachable person. I say this because some people may feel more uncertain based off image, for example I have tattoos. Personally I feel I am very approachable and secure as a person but you never know. Next, I believe when I am participating in every day helping relationships I don’t think about the main purpose. In any peer relationship when I am speaking I can get lost in my own words and forget what we initially were talking about.
I feel a start to improving first, overall I could be confident in my ability to help anyone who may be uncertain to seek my help. Little things such as having that extra confidence can make a huge difference your good deeds may not go unnoticed. Next, I feel like I could be a better listener in general by listening more and thinking less about what I will say. I feel by doing this I may not get so lost in my words and will gain more out of listening. I do recognize these characteristics will not come easily and will be something I have to work on daily.
It’s Aliiiiiive!
It is no surprise that technology is an enormous part of our lives – it just is. The format of this very class attests to that. I am fascinated by what is out there these days technologically. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have been able to experience what life was like before all the gizmos and gadgets. Years ago, I used to attend one of the biggest computer/technology conventions that was held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada. The best of the best were showcasing their latest products and the newcomers even had a platform to introduce their new piece of the technology pie. It is nothing short of amazing of how far advances in technology since then have been made.
One of the most amazing technologies, hands down, is our cellphones. But, who calls them cellphones anymore? They are “Smartphones”, right? And, smart they are…well actually it is the developers behind the iPhones and Smartphones who are smart. We have all seen, and probably would not want to live without, many of the “apps” that make our lives more organized, keep us in touch with family and friends, keep us abreast of what is happening in the world via social media, and the list goes on. We could all probably agree that we look on our phone to “see if there is an app for that”. I’ve seen my share of really spiffy apps that have made a positive difference in my life. Could I do without it? Probably, but it sure is nice to have it. Now that I am a soon to be nurse, I am more than ever interested in what is available on our smartphones for medical purposes. I found something interesting.
A company by the name of AliveCor has turned our smartphones into a medical device. According to Haw (2014) “Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and, if left untreated, is a significant risk factor for stroke and heart failure.” Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted AliveCor clearance for its algorithm to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib). AliveCor has an automated process (algorithm) that analyses and instantly detects if a patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation via real-tiime electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. And, so you say? Well, a patient does not go to the doctor’s office or hospital for this ECG. The ECG is taken on a mobile phone based with AliveCor’s Heart Monitor. The AliveCor Heart Monitor records, stores and transfers ECG rhythms.This real-time ECG is seen by the patient’s doctor who can immediately intervene before a life-threatening event, such as a stroke, occurs. Patients can use AliveCor’s ECG analysis service to confirm their ECG results with a U.S. board-certified cardiologist or a personal physician.
Healthcare professionals, patients with known or suspected cardiac conditions and health conscious individuals are the target consumers for the AliveCor Heart Monitor. AliveCor says, “The monitor is compatible with all iPhone models and most Android mobile devices. This monitor is the perfect example of some of the amazing technology that is out there for cardiac conditions. Users will continue to have the ability to access their data confidentially anytime, anywhere.”
http://www.alivecor.com
References
Haws, J. (2014). Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: An update. British Journal Of Cardiac Nursing, 9(8), 376-380.
Reducing Stroke Risk During Cardiovascular Procedure
In the current age of technology, there are new procedures and treatments are being developed every day to improve patient outcomes in the medical field. Heart disease affects many people in the United States which demonstrates a need for improved cardiovascular therapies. Carotid artery disease (CAD) occurs when the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, become narrowed as a result of plaque build up along the artery wall. Treatment for CAD involves an angioplasty and stent insertion to restore adequate blood flow to the brain.
Traditionally, stent and angioplasty procedures have been preformed by going through the femoral artery to access the carotid artery to improve blood flow to the brain. With these procedures, there is a risk of stroke resulting from plaque debris (cholesterol) loosened during the procedure. This year, a new system has been cleared by the FDA to reduce this stroke risk. The ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System (ENROUTE TNS) is the first system designed to access the carotid artery directly through the neck. Once there, the system reverses blood flow from the artery, sending the blood through a filter to gather the loosened debris, and then back into blood stream. Once implemented, this new cardiovascular procedure can improve patient outcomes.
FDA clears system to reduce stroke risk during stent and angioplasty procedures: Minimally-invasive system is first to access carotid arteries through the neck rather than the groin. (2015, February 9). Retrieved February 15, 2015, from http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm433482.htm
Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation
Less Invasive Procedure to Treat Atrial Fibrillation for Better Outcomes:
The treatment discussed in the article is a less invasive procedure called catheter ablation. This procedure is now considered first-line treatment for atrial fibrillation and replaces the need of surgery for treatment of atrial fibrillation that fails to heal with medications alone. Ablation treats abnormalities of the heart’s electrical system by purposely creating scar tissue that acts as a barrier to the abnormal electrical signals. This allows the heart to return to a normal sinus rhythm.
Advances in catheter ablation: The idea is to more closely identify the area of the heart that is causing the atrial fibrillation. In doing so, this would increase the success rate of treating atrial fibrillation. I support the continued research in order to find the best practice in treating patients with all conditions, specifically atrial fibrillation. It is important to implement the most updated treatment methods that have the most evidence of success to increase patient health outcomes.
The article discussed that they are aware that there is further research that needs to be done to improve this treatment and that they believe patients should have an updated view of what doctors know. I appreciate this statement because it is important for potential recipients of a treatment to be aware of the latest research and evidence regarding something that they may choose to do in order to improve their health.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/new-ablation-methods-results-in-advanced-afib-treatment.aspx
Listening…Something So Simple, Yet Done So Wrong
After participating in the ‘Listening’ exercise in class, I realized how much I must work on myself. Because of this activity, I learned that I need to work on giving individuals my full attention. I realized that I tend to not look people in the eyes. I also noticed that my eyes tend to wonder around the room instead of being focused on the individual. Looking at an individual is important when they are speaking because you can get a glimpse of what the individual is feeling from their body language. I did not necessarily feel the need to jump in and comment while my partner was telling me their frustrations, but I did feel the need to throw in a “”mhmm” or a “yeah” every once in a while to validate that I was listening. I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing.
Of the ten characteristics associated with a helping relationship, I feel the ones that come most naturally to me considering my current helping style are:
- The Helping Relationship Involves Feelings
- The Helping Relationship Demonstrates Respect for Individual Self-Worth
I believe these come naturally to me because I am very sensitive and understanding towards other peoples problems and feelings. I personally believe it is very important to always respect others and their decisions because I would want others to do the same for me.
The characteristics that are presently difficult to model and try out would have to be:
- The Helping Relationship Shows a Clear Structure
- The Helping Relationship Involves Communication and Interaction.
I see these as the characteristics that I need to work on. First of all, I tend to be all over the place when I talk with an individual. It is easy for me to get sidetracked from the true purpose of the conversation. As I stated above, I need to work on how I personally communicate with the individual I am having a one-on-one with. I have to work on directing my whole attention to the individual, especially my non-verbal actions.
To better myself, I have to integrate these more difficult characteristics into my current helping style. For example, if I engage in a conversation with an individual, I have to remind myself to look at the individual and not at the surroundings around the room; or I might remind myself what the purpose of this conversation is and not stray far from that objective (even if I really want to). I have to learn to catch myself when I am not following the helping guidelines and I must redirect myself. I have to work at this until it becomes a habit.
