Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
the notion that we as healthcare providers know the rules of
engagement and we know what to expect as we engage in a
conversation. The implicative force may come to the forefront at
times when we opt to speak in a particular way in an effort to
achieve a specific outcome. We see this as nurses avoid
confrontation and carefully chose their words as not to disturb the
rules of engagement between nurse and physician.
At times these types of interactions in healthcare
communications move to form what become the strange loops
within these conversations and as noted in particular the
conversations between nurses and physicians.
The strange loop.
A (A is in opposition
of C)
B (B is in opposition
of D)
C (where C is in
opposition of A)
D (D is in opposition of
B)
Figure 5. Strange loop of CMM.
Strange loop. The strange loop provides an image of
communication which seems to flow from one scenario to an
opposing scenario and or opposing communication interactions
(refer to figure 5) (Pearce, in press).
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