The meanings of nonverbal communication in interviews for selection of professional nursing

Abstract

This study aims to better understand how nurses in management positions at a university hospital interpret the nonverbal signals of candidates being interviewed for employment as nurses. It is a descriptive research with a qualitative approach, which used semi-structured interviews collected from twelve nurses in management positions and six nurses in continuing education at a university hospital in São Paulo. Data were analyzed using Minayo's content analysis. Results indicated the most noticed nonverbal signals to be: The importance of presentation and personal care; eye contact; the tone of voice and manner of speaking. These data were interpreted as indicators of self-confidence, emotional balance and sincerity. It was concluded that the nurses' knowledge of nonverbal cues was insufficient. They noticed personal appearance, eye contact, tone of voice and posture, and attributed poor personal presentation and alteration in the tone of voice to signs of disinterest and insecurity or emotional leakage. Posture and gesticulation were taken as nervousness. The results reveal that nurses in this study have difficulty deciphering non-verbal communication and feel the need to develop the perception that power of communication to better performance in the selection of candidates.