• K W Moore and K S Schwartz.
• J Emerg Nurs. 1993 Aug 1; 19 (4): 297-302.

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that a difference exists between the perception of the nurse and that of the observer regarding the extent of verbal and nonverbal communication that occurs between nurses and trauma victims (and their families) in the emergency setting.Design And SettingTypical descriptive design study completed in a large metropolitan emergency and trauma center in central Michigan.MethodsVerbal and nonverbal interaction between nurses and trauma victims and their families were observed by one of two researchers and scored with the Moore-Schwartz Data Collection Tool. The nurses then self-reported these same items.ResultsSignificant differences existed between the researchers' scores and the nurses' self-report scores. This was demonstrated by the Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient (0.2361, p = 0.05), the Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test (61.50, p = 0.0004), and the test (-3.35, p = 0.01). The Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient also demonstrated significant relationships between the nurses' self-report scores and age (0.3716, p = 0.05), gender (-0.360, p = 0.05), and educational level (-0.4209, p = 0.05). No relationship was found between the nurses' self-report scores and the trauma score or age of the patient, or years of emergency department nursing experience.ConclusionNurses report that they are communicating verbally and nonverbally with trauma victims and their families in the emergency setting, but often were not observed to be doing so. Emergency nurses may not be delivering the holistic care and psychosocial support that they believe they are.

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