How to communicate effectively while wearing face masks

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed communication in nursing. Aby Mitchell and Barry Hill provide recommendations for improving communication when wearing a face covering. Communication is an essential part of nursing care and practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed communication in healthcare. The 2 metre social distancing rule combined with the need to wear face masks has made communication more challenging. Wearing masks reduces the ability to access the non-verbal facial expressions and cues, such as lip movements, that are so vital to daily communication. Practice nurses rely on non-verbal communication as part of a complete holistic assessment and to build therapeutic relationships. This article provides some recommendations for improving communication when wearing a face covering.