Theoretical

Foundations of
Nursing
Theories that will build
the foundation of the nurse in YOU!
 1. An (interpersonal) source:
some person with ideas, needs, intentions,
information and a reason for communicating.
2. A message
coded, systematic set of symbols representing ideas,
purpose, intentions and feelings.
3. An encoder
the mechanism for expressing or translating the
purpose of the communication into the message.

4. A channel
Theories the medium for carrying the message.

Of 5. A decoder

Communication the mechanism for translating the message into a

form that the recipient can use.
6. A receiver
The Communication model
generally accepted includes: the target or recipient of the message
 * Communication is diverse, ranging from mass
media, popular culture and language to
Model indvidual and social behavior

Of * “Communicare” meaning to make common”

Communication
There are two main schools of thought
* explaining communication:

1. PROCESS School
sees communication as the
transmission of messages. Includes
theories of Shannon and Weavers
(1949) and Newcombs (1953).

2. SEMIOTIC School
uses semiotics or the science of signs
and meanings as its main methods of
study. It is concerned with text and
culture.
 THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

The Semiotic School

A radically different approach that puts emphasis on communication as the
generation of meaning
Semiotics or semiology is the study of signs and the way they work. The
American logician and philosopher C.S. Pierce and swiss linguist Ferdinand de
Saussure were the founders of semiotics (Fiske, 1990)
In semiotics, the receiver, also called the reader, is seen as playing a more active
role.
Meanings are determined by the cultural experience of the reader, who in turn
helps create the meaning of the text by bringing to it his or her experience,
attributes and emotions.
CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2018
 THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Information Theory
Communication includes all of the procedures by which one mind may affect
the other.

The process begins with a source selecting a message out of all messages
which would be possible to communicate. The transmitter is the voice
mechanism producing the signal (spoken words or the varying pressure
passing from the vocal system of one person to the ear of another)
transmitted through air (the channel). The receiver (the ear) decodes the
message and reconstructs the message from the signals transmitted. This
is passed on to a destination.
CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2018
INFORMATION * NOISE
is anything which is added to the
TECHNOLOGY signal which is not intended by
the information source.

*ENTROPY
is the uncertainty or
disorganization of
communication, associated with
the amount of freedom of choice
one has in constructing a
message.

* ENTROPY REDUNDANCY
is that portion of the message
which is not determined by the
free choice of the sender.
 THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Non-Verbal Communication
It functions to convey information about the speaker and his or her identity,
emotions, attitudes, intentions or social position.
The second function of non-verbal communication is to manage the kind of
relationship that one person wants with another. By using a certain tone of voice,
posture, facial expression, gesture, the nurse can attempt to dominate a patient,
reassure, or intimidate.

There are several non-verbal modes of communication.

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2018

 Non-Verbal * PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Refers to body characteristics
Modes * that are under voluntary control---
hair, clothes, body paint and
Of adornment---and those less
controllable—height and weight.
Communication
* This can indicate physical health,
personal grooming habits or
eating habits. It can send
messages about personality,
social status and emotional state.

* BODY MOVEMENT
* Kinesics is the study of body
movement in communication.

* It has 3 categories: Facial

expression, Gestures and Body
Stance.
Categories *FACIAL EXPRESSION
*This can convey emotional messages such as
Of happiness, sadness, fear, concern and others.
* EYE CONTACT
kinesics is a special type of facial expression.
*Maintaining eye contact coupled with a
smile usually effects rapport with a
patient
*GESTURES
* This involves the hands, arms, feet and head.
* Gestures may indicate either general emotional
arousal or specific emotional states.

* Intermittent, emphatic and forceful up-and-down

gestures often indicate strong emotional states,
whereas more fluid, continuous, circular gestures
indicate a desire to explain or to persuade.
Categories
Of *BODY STANCE
kinesics * Includes posture, configuration of arms or legs,
distribution of body weight and over-all quality of
movement.

* Our ways of standing, sitting and lying can

communicate interpersonal attitudes
(friendliness, hostility, superiority, inferiority)
and emotional state (tension and relaxation).
 THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Non-verbal mode of communication

PARALANGUAGE
Includes voice qualities such as speaking rate, pitch range, pitch variety, rhythm
and tempo of speaking, raspness and tone.
Also includes giggling and whimpering and vocalized pauses (um, er, eh or
throat clearing), which are used to fill in spaces between words and phrases.
Involves the use of SILENCE. This can convey interest in what the other is
saying, sympathy or respect.
Silence accompanied by head nods or interrupted by ‘uh-hum’ encourages the
speaker to go on and convey the message “I am listening”.

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2018

 *HAPICS
is the study of touch in
Non-Verbal communication.

Mode
*
Of Nurses need to be aware that
they send powerful messages
Communication through the use of touch.

* The amount and quality of touch

people receive can significantly
TOUCHING affect their
physical health
emotional and

* Thoughts somehow project

through touch.
 *CHRONEMICS
Non-Verbal
is the study of how people use
Mode time in communication.
Of
*
Communication The way a nurse goes about her
activities in a patient’s room (as if
she can’t wait to leave, how early
or late we arrive for a meeting,
how long we keep a patient
waiting before answering
TIME inquiries, and the length of time
we spend before responding to a
call) all convey non verbal
messages.
 THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Non-verbal mode of communication

SPACE AND TERRITORY
Proxemics is the study of the distances people maintain between themselves and
others and how they defend their territories to maintain preferred distances.
People need space to feel comfortable. Space expands and contracts based on
the situation

Privacy and Respecting An interpersonal interaction between the nurse

Boundaries and client during which the nurse focuses on

Proxemics = Distance Zone the client’s specific needs to promote an

effective exchange of information.
TOUCH
CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2018
THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Intimate Zones (0-18 inches) Space between people who mutually desire personal
contact, or people wanting to have some private moments.

(18-36 inches) This distance is comfortable between and among

Personal Zones
family members and friends who are talking.

(4-12 feet) This distance is acceptable for communication in social,

Social Zones
work, and business setting.

Public Zones (12-25 feet) This distance is acceptable between a speaker and
an audience, small groups, and other informal functions.

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2018

THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Functional-Professional Used in examinations or procedures such as when the nurse touches a

Touch client to assess skin turgor or a masseur performs a massage.

Used in greeting, such as a handshake and the “air kiss” some women
Social-Polite Touch use to greet acquaintances, or when a gentle hand guides someone in
the correct Direction

Friendship-Warmth Involves a hug in greeting, an arm thrown around the shoulder of a good
Touch Zones friend, or the back slapping some men use to greet friends and relatives.

Love-Intimacy Touch Involves tight hugs and kisses between lovers or close relatives.

Sexual-Arousal Touch Used by lovers.

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2018

 1. Personal preference
Factors
Influencing 2. The relationship between the communicators
Personal
SPACE 3. The nature of the topic discussed

4. Cultural heritage of the participants

5. The nature of the communication context

The kind of territory will generally influence how

much personal space a person can expect to have.
 Types * PUBLIC TERRITORY
Of is a setting that is open to anyone.
Ex. parks, bars, hospitals
Territory
* INTERACTIONAL TERRITORY

is a space reserved for particular

people during a specific period of
time.

Ex. classrooms, patient’s room.

* HOME TERRITORY
is a space in which individuals live
and work.
THEORITICAL FOUNDATION OF NURSING

THANK YOU!
SUBJECT OR CLASS SECTION

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2018