The importance of language for nursing: does it convey commonality of meaning and is it important to do so.
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.


METHODS
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 an elitist language for nurses and its placement for communicating with other health care professionals.


BACKGROUND
Through exploring language with a small group of nurses, this paper alludes to consumer expectations; how nurses use a common language; and where and when they move toward a more elitist communication. The paper examines consumer expectations of health care communication and how it facilitates consumer choice and the quality care agenda.


CONCLUSIONS
Communication for the nursing profession poses a challenge as there are differing requirements for specific situations. Nurses acknowledge that language facilitates commonality of understanding and hence meaning. An elitist language when communicating with other health professionals does exist within specialist units, though where commonality of language ends and an elite language begins is difficult to determine. Language does elicit power and authority when educating and communicating with patients while proving difficult in the context of international global nursing requirements.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Gippsland Campus, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. sonia.allen@med.monash.edu.au
Sonia
S
Allen
Ysanne
Y
Chapman
Margaret
M
O'Connor
Karen
K
Francis
D003142:Communication; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009736:Nursing Process; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011361:Professional Competence; D012660:Semantics; D018875:Vocabulary, Controlled