I was driving to work when I heard the news: Strunk and White’s famous little writing guide, The Elements of Style, is celebrating its fiftieth birthday. This tidbit of information struck a nerve with me, reminding me of my own longevity. Now it has me thinking about the need for clear communication within the health care industry.

As a group, nurses are a maturing population, with the average age above forty. According to national studies, a large percent of nurses have already celebrated their fiftieth birthdays. No doubt, many of these mature nurses were raised on Strunk’s pithy style manual. Today, fifty years later, health care professionals of all ages face the daily hazard of unclear communication. We can all use advice from this timeless little book.

Here are a few of Strunk and White’s enduring communication tips, which could have been written directly to nurses:

Be Clear!

Strunk and White remind readers to “Think of the tragedies that are rooted in ambiguity, and be clear!” Clarity applies to all of our professional communications. Not only should we be clear in our formal communication such as documenting, patient education and reporting. We need to also be clear in our telephone and text message exchanges.

Omit Unnecessary Words and Do Not Explain Too Much.

According to the little book of style, “This requires not that the writer make all sentences short, or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.” Like clarity, efficient word use is vital to safe health care communication. When documenting, ask yourself, “Have I confined my notes to relevant information? Have I avoided double documentation? Have I clearly communicated all critical information?”

Do Not Inject Opinion.

Again, ask yourself, “Have I avoided interjecting subjective and irrelevant opinions?” Irrelevant opinions look unprofessional, especially in a court of law.

As nurses, our days are filled with non-stop communication. Verbal interactions are second nature to us. We need to ensure that all of our workplace exchanges are professional.

So, next time you sit down to write your notes or provide hand-off communication on your patient, remember:  Keep it clear. Keep it efficient. And avoid interjecting your opinion. No doubt, your colleagues and patients will be grateful, and your administrators will be impressed.