Paper: The Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) and Research Applications: Four Healthcare Research Studies Using CMM (19th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice)

Tuesday, 8 July 2008: 3:15 PM

Lydia L. Forsythe, PhD, MSN, MA, RN, CNOR , Surgical Services and Orthopedic Service Line, St. Anthony Medical Center OSF Healthcare, Rockford, IL

Learning Objective 1: Understand the use of the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) as a framework for research on communication in healthcare

Learning Objective 2: Define the use of CMM in four healthcare studies and as a result the practical applications of improved communication

Social construction and the understanding of the potentials of human interaction and exploration are essential in many environments to develop and lead change which can bring collaborative and positive outcomes. In particular, in thinking about exploration and change and how we relate these two concepts to the evolution of theory and applications in research we can continue to develop new types of frameworks that are focused on the multitude of human interactions as a positive construction. An example is the concept of patient safety and communication which are linked as co-joined themes within the paradigm of social construction in healthcare. The more understanding we can develop about individuals as a social construction within a particular environment the greater the potential implications can be for practical change in the form of new constructions. To the point and specifically in healthcare we can use the understanding of our social constructions to develop positive communication interactions for safer patient care. “Creating a culture of safety and healthcare communication”, “OR Team communication and a Culture of safety”, “Nurse Perceptions of the Work Environment”, and “ED Residents and Nurses, Team Communication and the Use of Simulation” all have a common thread which draws upon the exploration of communication within the frame of the Coordinated Management of Meaning a communication theory (CMM). CMM is used in these studies as a concept based in the tradition of social constructionism to develop research and the translation of ideas into practice. By using the ideas of CMM one can redefine an ability to socially construct a path as a healthcare delivery team. The team can dissolve the boundaries of hierarchies and socially constricted “talk”. The healthcare team can move to an openly interactive communicative space to promote safer patient care.

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