Communication in Human Service

Communication in Human Service

Effective communication is an essential skill in every job market. In most cases, studies indicate that individuals with excellent communication skills often establish excellent interpersonal skills with those around them, creating a conducive environment for professional growth. Nonetheless, human service careers revolve around serving the people directly. Having a direct contact to the people demands effective communication skills and strategies to ascertain the effectiveness of and quality of the service. Both the clients and the staff end up being satisfied with the kind of service delivery that one engages in, which is a primary focus in service delivery.  Thus, the paper explores types of service jobs that best fit my persona, communication techniques that I could use in the selected human service job to be an exceptional professional, as well as a fictional outline of communication with employees and a drafted application letter for the position.

 Jobs in Human Service

Human service is an extensive interdisciplinary field that details of the study that aims at meeting the needs of humans via knowledge application. The application focuses on the prevention of problems in human societies as well as finding remedies to the current issues (Mosley 2018,4). The main goal is always to maintain and improve the quality of life among human populations. As such, such practices involve studying rational people and communities concerning the technological advances capable of enhancing the quality of human life. Driven by the vision to provide autonomy in human society through effective service delivery, human service professionals believe in advocating for positive social change in society. Social workers, psychologists, nurses, child life specialists, and family therapists are some of the common examples of human service professionals.

Nursing

Nursing is a field in human health care that details providing care to families, individuals, or patients to ensure that that the individuals achieve the quality of life. In most cases, it is a broad field with varied specialization to choose from. For instance, there are surgical nurses in the surgical unit, recovery nurses, home care nurses, admission nurses, among others.  In both cases, they share the commonality of taking care of the patient to ensure full recovery as well as acting as the Doctor’s subordinate. The process of being a nurse is long. One is required to get a college degree in nursing. The degree comes along with a specific form of experience from attachment sessions where the student nurse is sent to the field to test their theoretical knowledge and put it into practice and use. Nevertheless, being a nurse requires an individual to have special skills and qualities such as patience, perseverance, and dedication towards the job.

Psychologist

Psychology is another field of human service that details around professionals who have studied the human mind and behavior. These individuals understand the unconscious and subconscious human thoughts, feelings, and emotions and can understand what other people are thinking, predict their next behavior and possibly control their behavior by ‘entering’ their minds, observe the patterns and possibly predict these patterns. Psychology is a complex field that requires one to have critical thinking skills, patience, a good listener, as well as commitment. To become a psychologist, one has to acquire a degree in psychology that comes with an early experience during the college years when the sophomore has to go to a mandatory attachment program. However, upon entry into formal employment, one has to have at least two years’ experience, which implies after college, finding internship opportunities and voluntary programs is crucial for one to find the necessary job experience.

For nursing and psychology practice to be effective, there are specific communication techniques that could be employed. Excellent listening skills are the primary communication technique that could be used in these jobs (Cohn 2016). It employs paying attention to the client and listening to the client patiently before analyzing and evaluating the information. Because these services deal directly with humans, they entail establishing a form of engagement with the client. One cannot improve the quality of life of these individuals without understanding their problems. Good listening skills are the keys to understanding these problems.

Also, clarity is another communication skill that is relevant in this context (Cohn,2016). It implies the nurse or the psychologist being clear to the point when giving instructions, guidance, or information without leaving room for assumptions. In most cases, the two jobs are so attached to human emotions. They have a high ability to misguide judgment or opinion, which might end up being atrocious to the individual. Lack of clarity between the professional and the client or between the professional and the fellow staff might lead to miscommunications resulting in wrong therapy that might negatively affect the patient.

Additionally, giving feedback is another communication technique that could be used in nursing and psychology (Cohn,2016). These fields directly deal with humanity to improve their quality of life. Feedback can be amongst the staff themselves to ascertain the progress of the patient and recommend further intervention. However, primary feedback interplays around the professional and the patient. The kind of feedback that one gives the patient during a session will determine the extent to which the patient will open up and provide information that is worth helping them improve their quality of life. These techniques, therefore, could be applied by nurses and psychologists in practice.

Selected Job

Basing on my interests and passion, nursing is the job that best suits my personality. It because it deeply interplays around a more direct medical care, which is my passion; to provide medical care and transform humanity. As such, there are various forms of communication techniques that I would adopt during service delivery. For instance, good listening is one of the primary skills I would adapt (Mellissa,2020). It would imply patiently listening to the patient and observing their cues to comprehend and ascertain their level of need before strategizing on the best intervention plan. Similarly, good listening will imply listening to the doctor carefully while providing information regarding treatment protocol to ensure that the patient gets the best service possible.

Similarly, showing compassion through non-verbal cues is another option (Mellissa,2020). It implies taking sides with the patient and showing them concerns and needs that one understands their issue and pain. As such, the patient becomes more relieved and more open to expose the problem freely. It is a method I believe could be a vast transformation, improving the quality of life. Finally, educating patients is another technique I would use in my practice (Mellissa,2020). It implies showing the ability to explain the patient’s condition to them carefully and assuring them that the issue will be handled. It is a strategy that predominantly inspires trust.

Fictional Outline of Communication

Communication in an organization differs depending on hierarchy. Colleague to colleague communication tends to be more casual, friendly, and informal. It is because these individuals spend much together working and establish a connection. However, a colleague to an employer is more official, authoritative, and formal regarding the high honor of the employer to the firm (Steven,2014). It is therefore handled with care to maintain high ethical standards.

To establish excellent communication with my prospective colleagues, I plan to be an active listener and use interruption techniques cautiously (Steven,2014). It will develop strong arguments that are capable of improving my profession from a more class of experienced nurses. Also, I will offer constructive criticism during sessions and ensure that my workmate understands my true intentions. Nevertheless, if a colleague did something great, I will provide positive reinforcement without sounding too bossy. Furthermore, I plan to use jokes for comic effect with colleagues where relevant. It is because jokes predominantly clear the air during unnecessary workplace pressure and tension while at the same time remaining objective and on course.

However, while communicating with my employers, I will use a different communication approach. I will communicate confidentially and clearly to show consistency and allow me to earn their trust and build on the trust by maintaining a good work ethic (steven,2014). I will also keep spoken and written short and straightforward, while at the same time speaking only when spoken to. It shows respect for the organization.

Draft of a Cover Letter

Student’s Name,

Address,

02/02/2020.

Human Resource Manager,
Mayo Clinic,

P.O Box 463-673,

Baltimore, MD.

Dear Sir/Madam

RE: Request for Employment as a Surgical Nurse

Following a vacancy that appeared in the local dailies regarding a job in your clinic, I would like to submit my application over the same. I am a qualified surgical nurse with four years’ experience in handling surgical experiences. Born and raised in Baltimore, I believe Mayo Clinic’s vacancy is a perfect opportunity for me to give back to society finally.  I believe I would be a good fit for the organization since it is the same place that I did my college internship during my senior year at the University of Maryland before my graduation. I thus understand the organization’s vision and goals better, with a good familiarity with its internal operations.

Attached to this letter are my academic credentials as well as my current resume. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Signature,

Student’s Name.

Therefore, proper corporate communications techniques are very significant for any human service professional. Although communication differs depending on hierarchy, excellent listening skills stand out as the essential technique that social service must employ to ascertain and improve the quality of life. Nursing becomes a field that I believe can help me bring transformative changes in society by serving the needs of others to improve their quality of lives despite its high demand for patience and perseverance.

References

Cohn, K (2016). Developing Effective Communication Skills, Journal of Oncology Practice. 3(6):314-317, DOI: 10.1200/JOP.0766501

Mellissa, M (2020). 10 Essential Nurse Communication Skills for Success, Nurse Choice. Retrieved from https://www.nursechoice.com/traveler-resources/10-essential-nurse-communication-skills-for-success/

Mosley, J.E (2014). Human Service Agents and Question of Impact: Lessons for Theory, Policy, and Practice, Human Service Organization Journal. 4(2), doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2018.142595

Steven, A. (2014). The Emergence of Corporate Communications: Rehabilitating the Corporate “Soul.” Corporate Communications: Convention, Complexity, and Critique Corporate Communications: Convention, Complexity, and Critique, 3(5), 12–33. doi: 10.4135/9781446214466.n2