While caring for my patient in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit, I assisted another nurse who was helping her seventy-one-year-old patient ambulate to promote circulation and decrease the patient's chances of developing pneumonia. It also helps the patient develop strength and confidence after such a major surgery as this patient. This patient arrived with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and had a history of cocaine and alcohol abuse, atrial fibrillation, mitral regurgitation, and hypertension. She was placed with a left ventricular assist device, and ten days after device placement, she was diagnosed with H1N1 influenza, had a tracheostomy performed, and was placed on the ventilator. Since she had to wear a mask when she was outside her room and was undergoing a tracheostomy, it was really difficult to understand the patient's needs, and this was very concerning to me. If the nurse is unable to understand the patient's needs, the patient is at risk. Grossbach, Stranberg, and Chlan (2011) state that “communication difficulties often cause anxiety, frustration, and fear in patients.” (p. 47). Patients in the intensive care unit are already under considerable stress due to the criticality of their illness and do not need to experience additional stress because this can slow down the healing process. Therefore, it is appropriate to find alternative ways to communicate effectively with the patient when there are barriers, such as those of this patient. The nurse I assisted with ambulation of this patient was much more knowledgeable than I was about the strategies developed for communicating with this patient. era. When the nurse communicated with this patient, she spoke directly to the patient where the patient was able to… middle of paper… could lead to harmful effects. Through this experience, I have become a better nurse. I am more aware of key strategies I can use with my patients who are unable to clearly verbalize their needs, and I have a broader understanding and greater appreciation for communication. This is something that many take for granted every day and is such an important factor in meeting our needs. Without communication, nurses are unable to provide care to patients because they do not know what the patient's needs are. Therefore, as nurses, it is extremely important and our responsibility to communicate effectively with all of our patients every day. Works Cited Grossbach, I., Stranberg, S., & Chlan, L. (2011). Promote effective communication for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Critical Care Nursing, 31(3), 46-61. doi: 10.4037/ccn2010728