Nurses Teachers Administrators Human Resources Consultants Students Confident Voices gets directly to the heart of many distressing problems that nurses face and seek to change. Combining stories, facts, experience, and theories, the author presents compelling insights into root causes of medical errors, staffing shortages and workplace violence. Boynton sets the stage for understanding underlying issues and then teaches us how to build healthy work relationships and workplaces. Nurses have enormous potential to transform healthcare. This book transforms that potential into real problem-solving power!
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About the Author
Beth Boynton, RN, MS is a Nurse Consultant specializing in communication and workplace dynamics. She is an adjunct faculty member for New England College, publishes the enewsletter, Confident Voices for Nurses: the Resource for Creating Positive Workplaces, and is a featured columnist for the American Nurse Association-Maine Journal. More info at: www.bethboynton.com and www.confidentvoices.com.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Enigma46
Format:Paperback
Confident Voices is a "must read" for every nurse who has had conversations with peers, supervisors, physicians and health care providers that have ended badly or wanted a different outcome. Confident Voices is designed to negotiate health care in the 21st Century and for communicating in a way that leaves everyone feeling included and honored in the process of day-to-day discussions in getting the job done. Beth Boynton's book provides the nurse with conversation tools to navigate difficult situations and provides support and feedback to reframe the situation so all involved win. I appreciate all the work Beth Boynton did in writing this book and the necessity of clear, concise communications in this difficult period we are all facing in the health care today.
Meg Helgert FNP
Portland Oregon
Meg Helgert FNP
Portland Oregon
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Physician Reflects on Improving Healthcare Communication and Collaboration
February 21, 2010
By K. Cohn
Format:Paperback
Something called out to me about Confident Voices: The Nurses' Guide to Improving Communication and Creating Positive Workplaces, written by Beth Boynton and edited by Bonnie Kerrick.
- In my HealthcareCollaboration blog post, Collaborative Insight, I saluted the nurses who helped me improve my bedside manner and my communication skills; although I may not have been as forthcoming as I would have liked to be upon receiving their feedback, in retrospect, how nice it is to know that they considered me trainable
- I think that many of us career-focused physicians come late to value relationships and teamwork in facilitating a practice environment in which we enjoy coming into work
I admit that I found stories in this book, like certain medicines, difficult to swallow but (in the long run) beneficial:
- A nurse, finishing her first year of training, confessed that she was finally used to being yelled at (p.122)
- Connie, an experienced ED nurse in a new hospital was chewed out by a physician for not telling him about laboratory values soon enough in a patient whom Connie suspected of having internal bleeding (p.142); the nurse who relieved Connie for lunch dismissed the issue with a shrug, saying that the values had come back just a minute ago; Connie's nursing colleague dismissed the situation with a comment that everyone has to earn their stripes; her nursing supervisor told her not to be so sensitive; a nurse reviewer recalled the catch phrase in the 1980's that "nurses eat their young"
I recommend Confident Voices: The Nurses' Guide to Improving Communication and Creating Positive Workplaces not only because it is good medicine but also because it has practical guidelines to help us improve the practice environment where we work. For example (p.128-130), giving and receiving feedback:
- Check to see if your feedback is desired
- Use specific events rather than hot-button words that judge or exaggerate (like always or never)
- Focus on behavior rather than personality
- Ask the person for his or her opinion
- Listen actively, validate the other person's input, and thank the person
- Reflect upon the feedback to create greater self-awareness
I recommend this book for all healthcare professionals who want practical tips on how to improve communication and collaboration where they work.
Kenneth H. Cohn, M.D., MBA, author of Better Communication for Better Care: Mastering Physician-Administration Collaboration and Collaborate for Success! Breakthrough Strategies for Engaging Physicians, Nurses, and Hospital Executives, [...]
- In my HealthcareCollaboration blog post, Collaborative Insight, I saluted the nurses who helped me improve my bedside manner and my communication skills; although I may not have been as forthcoming as I would have liked to be upon receiving their feedback, in retrospect, how nice it is to know that they considered me trainable
- I think that many of us career-focused physicians come late to value relationships and teamwork in facilitating a practice environment in which we enjoy coming into work
I admit that I found stories in this book, like certain medicines, difficult to swallow but (in the long run) beneficial:
- A nurse, finishing her first year of training, confessed that she was finally used to being yelled at (p.122)
- Connie, an experienced ED nurse in a new hospital was chewed out by a physician for not telling him about laboratory values soon enough in a patient whom Connie suspected of having internal bleeding (p.142); the nurse who relieved Connie for lunch dismissed the issue with a shrug, saying that the values had come back just a minute ago; Connie's nursing colleague dismissed the situation with a comment that everyone has to earn their stripes; her nursing supervisor told her not to be so sensitive; a nurse reviewer recalled the catch phrase in the 1980's that "nurses eat their young"
I recommend Confident Voices: The Nurses' Guide to Improving Communication and Creating Positive Workplaces not only because it is good medicine but also because it has practical guidelines to help us improve the practice environment where we work. For example (p.128-130), giving and receiving feedback:
- Check to see if your feedback is desired
- Use specific events rather than hot-button words that judge or exaggerate (like always or never)
- Focus on behavior rather than personality
- Ask the person for his or her opinion
- Listen actively, validate the other person's input, and thank the person
- Reflect upon the feedback to create greater self-awareness
I recommend this book for all healthcare professionals who want practical tips on how to improve communication and collaboration where they work.
Kenneth H. Cohn, M.D., MBA, author of Better Communication for Better Care: Mastering Physician-Administration Collaboration and Collaborate for Success! Breakthrough Strategies for Engaging Physicians, Nurses, and Hospital Executives, [...]
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Beth Boynton RN, MS, author of Confident Voices: The Nurses' Guide to Improving Communication & Creating Positive Workplaces, practices what she preaches. In addition to being an author, she is also an educator, speaker, coach and consultant, using her own confident voice to inspire other nurses to improve their communication skills and to change healthcare workplaces for the better.
The first section of her book offers readers a basic understanding of workplace dynamics and organizational culture, giving nurse leaders a foundation from which they can assess their current work environment. For example, Ms. Boynton gives a succinct review of several theories of organizational culture including constructive cultures, passive-defensive cultures, passive-aggressive cultures and cultures of blame.
There is a well-written chapter on workplace violence which follows one nurse through her experience as a victim of workplace violence. The chapter ends with three possible "solutions" to the problem, followed by relevant and thought-provoking discussion questions.
The second section of Confident Voices challenges readers to improve their communications skills, especially assertiveness and respectful listening. The discussion of "I" statements is particularly well done, illustrating with real world examples how "I" statements can promote communication and how they can be misused. It also offers readers the chance to practice converting disrespectful communication into respectful "I" statements.
In the third section, Ms. Boynton pulls together the theories and skills discussed in previous chapters and shows readers how they apply to the real life experiences of nurses. The scenarios will strike a chord with many nurses and we can all learn from the suggested solutions presented in the book.
The "real life" examples in the book do seem heavily weighted toward (male) physician-(female) nurse communication and perhaps serve to add to the historic, stereotypical "divide" between doctors and nurses. None of the examples address the potential communication obstacles between culturally diverse co-workers. In addition, the book lacks any mention of nursing paraprofessionals and how nurses can use their confident voices to ensure respectful teamwork with CNAs and assertive delegation of tasks. However, these issues do not detract from the inherent value of the book.
While Confident Voices is an interesting read for any nurse, its primary target audience seems to be nurse managers or nurses who are aiming for a career in nursing administration. For them, it is a must-have resource!
Linda H. Leekley BS, RN, co-author of The Real Healthcare Reform: How Embracing Civility Can Beat Back Burnout and Revive Your Healthcare Career
The first section of her book offers readers a basic understanding of workplace dynamics and organizational culture, giving nurse leaders a foundation from which they can assess their current work environment. For example, Ms. Boynton gives a succinct review of several theories of organizational culture including constructive cultures, passive-defensive cultures, passive-aggressive cultures and cultures of blame.
There is a well-written chapter on workplace violence which follows one nurse through her experience as a victim of workplace violence. The chapter ends with three possible "solutions" to the problem, followed by relevant and thought-provoking discussion questions.
The second section of Confident Voices challenges readers to improve their communications skills, especially assertiveness and respectful listening. The discussion of "I" statements is particularly well done, illustrating with real world examples how "I" statements can promote communication and how they can be misused. It also offers readers the chance to practice converting disrespectful communication into respectful "I" statements.
In the third section, Ms. Boynton pulls together the theories and skills discussed in previous chapters and shows readers how they apply to the real life experiences of nurses. The scenarios will strike a chord with many nurses and we can all learn from the suggested solutions presented in the book.
The "real life" examples in the book do seem heavily weighted toward (male) physician-(female) nurse communication and perhaps serve to add to the historic, stereotypical "divide" between doctors and nurses. None of the examples address the potential communication obstacles between culturally diverse co-workers. In addition, the book lacks any mention of nursing paraprofessionals and how nurses can use their confident voices to ensure respectful teamwork with CNAs and assertive delegation of tasks. However, these issues do not detract from the inherent value of the book.
While Confident Voices is an interesting read for any nurse, its primary target audience seems to be nurse managers or nurses who are aiming for a career in nursing administration. For them, it is a must-have resource!
Linda H. Leekley BS, RN, co-author of The Real Healthcare Reform: How Embracing Civility Can Beat Back Burnout and Revive Your Healthcare Career
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Invaluable book for nurses and other health care professionals
When reading Confident Voices: The Nurses' Guide To Improving Communication and Creating Positive Workplaces by Beth Boynton, RN, MS, I was stunned by how the nursing workplace is... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Martine Ehrenclou
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good info, bothered by blank pages.
So I read the entire book. Left feeling empowered for the workplace. The content was good. However.... Read more
Published 12 months ago by B. Coupar
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Key to Communication in Health Care
Communication. Ah. This book captures the essence of what is needed in the everyday real world of nursing and health care. Read more
Published 18 months ago by yoganurse
5.0 out of 5 stars
Confident Voices by Beth Boynton is a must for a nurses library
For the novice nurse to the seasoned manager, this book is a must for their library. Beth has done an outstanding job of pointing out communication techniques that will set up a... Read more
Published on April 20, 2011 by Bonnie Kavanagh RN-BC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, a useful tool for teaching respectful communication!
Beth Boynton has created an easy to read tool that can be applied in all healthcare areas, not just nursing. Read more
Published on December 27, 2009 by Karen Ricker
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