Challenge Tips

Day 6 - Engage in Inclusive Conversations

Inclusive communication means engaging with patients, colleagues, and health care teams in a way that respects diversity and ensures everyone feels heard, valued, and respected. Encouraging empathetic and culturally sensitive interactions fosters teamwork, trust, and psychological safety.

Using inclusive language in health care promotes open dialogue, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging within health care teams. Nurses and health care workers who feel included and valued are more likely to voice concerns, share innovative ideas, and collaborate effectively.

Your Action for Today

Commit to inclusivity in your communications with patients and team members. Some examples:

• Acknowledge different perspectives with phrases like, “I appreciate your viewpoint,” or “That’s an important concern.”
• Address biases and attitudes that may affect patient care and team dynamics (see Day 3).
• Ensure everyone has a chance to speak in your next team huddle or meeting.
• If you're a nurse leader, regularly gauge whether all voices are represented in decision-making.
• Practice active listening (see Day 2) and avoid making assumptions about your colleagues’ experiences.
• Acknowledge or give credit when another team member has an idea or does the work.

In addition to creating a psychologically safe space for you and your team, inclusive language can help:

• Improve patient outcomes: Patients are more likely to follow treatment plans when they feel respected.
• Promote equity in health care: Inclusive communication reduces inequities and creates safer environments for everyone.
• Reduce miscommunication and errors: Studies show that ineffective communication among health care professionals can lead to adverse events, delays in treatment, medication errors, and wrong-site surgeries.

Join us on day 7: A sneak peek - De-escalate conflicts with empathetic communication tactics.

Missed day 5? Catch up here.