Communication is one of the most sought-after skills in any workplace, whether it is a cashier at a pharmacy or a doctor. The art of communicating well with a person at any level is important to convey the right information and make the right impression. In my opinion, nurses working in pediatrics and obstetrics need a greater level of communication skills. This will not only save them from any legal consequences, but will also help their patients and family members feel comfortable during one of the most stressful times of their lives. In my experience, especially in the labor and delivery department, it was below average. One of the patients, 39 to 40 weeks pregnant, came complaining of frequent contractions. The nurse asked her to change and hooked her up to an external monitor. Later we found out that she wasn't even dilated and her contractions were more than 12 minutes apart. So, after calling the doctor, the nurse told the patient that she will not be able to stay in the hospital and will have to go home. The patients were not happy and, like anyone nearly 40 weeks pregnant, would want to give birth and not have to go in and out of the hospital. After the patient leaves, the nurse makes a comment that the patient did not want the baby and that it was certainly not planned since no man had accompanied her to the hospital. After that, the nurse made a comment about how the patient looked so big and her clothes didn't even fit her properly. I found this demeaning because she was judging a 40 week pregnant woman who was complaining of contractions and impending labor. However, my experience in the pediatric renal service was one of the best I have had in this rotation. Nurses have taken in students who...... middle of paper ...... problems such as staffing problems, inadequate training and unsupportive management occur more often than reported . It is the duty of nurses to provide a relaxing environment for patients and other staff members. . Communicating in a clear, concise and respectful manner not only makes it easy to complete work in the field, but also helps maintain good team relationships. Although written communication seems to be time-consuming for nurses, it can help other staff members know the patient's plan of care and also help the nurse if a lawsuit is filed in the future. Works Cited Lyndon, A., Zlatnik, MG and Wachter, RM (2011). Effective doctor-nurse communication: essential patient safety in labor and delivery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.04.021Brous, E. (2014). Lessons learned from litigation: the case of Eric Decker. American Journal of Nursing, 114(2), 58-60.