Good communication is critical for any relationship. It’s especially important in the workplace.  We had a chance to talk with Shannon about the importance of good communication.

Why is good communication in the workplace important?
It’s essential to a healthy team that provides high-quality care. With good communication, people can work towards common goals, care plans, and meeting the needs of those in care and their co-workers.

How does stress affect how we communicate?
Stress can make it difficult to remain neutral and open in our communication with others and can often lead to miscommunication. For example, a stressed employee may be very quiet and focused on completing tasks and a co-worker may perceive this as them being upset or sullen and sometimes take it personally.

You talk about psychological first aid; what is this?
Psychological first aid is the process of recognizing the current state of a person’s emotional well-being
both for ourselves as caregivers and with our co-workers and friends. I share actions that can be taken if a person seems to be struggling emotionally or psychologically.

Why are you passionate about good communication?
I have worked in health care for the past 13 years and have seen several amazing caregivers struggle with burnout. I feel that by talking about the stresses and amazing aspects of our jobs, we can together take steps to prevent burnout and support our team members. Front-line workers need all the support we can give them to be successful in this fast-paced environment. I have also experienced events that I recognized as traumatic in the moment, but I didn’t fully realize how much they affected me at the time until I started researching Psychological First Aid.

Shannon Kenning is a licensed practical nurse and is currently the director of care at Castleview Care Home in Castlegar. She has a passion for providing high-quality person-centred care, and her team has achieved accreditation with exemplary status and great quality indicators for residents.