Nursing practice feedback: exploring barriers to and strategies for effective delivery
To increase your awareness of the multiple benefits of providing feedback to colleagues about practice
To consider common barriers to feedback delivery and strategies for addressing them
To reflect on your skills at giving feedback and creating an environment conducive to feedback
Feedback is essential for promoting nurses’ professional development and enhancing the quality of patient care. Effective feedback, in terms of delivery, content and receipt, can support nurses to identify their strengths and areas for improvement, enhance patient care and strengthen teamwork and communication. Despite its importance, however, delivering feedback can be challenging, notably due to concerns about how it will be received. Creating a supportive environment, using a structured framework and fostering self-reflection among staff can support nurse managers to deliver feedback effectively. This article explores the importance of feedback in nursing practice, examines some of the barriers to providing feedback and suggests strategies for delivering effective feedback.