3.2. Elements of CommunicationOn the basis of Figure 1.2, the elements of communication are as follows:1. Sender2. Message3. Channel of communication4. Receiver5. Feedback1. Sender: The sender is the person who initiates the process of communication. Whenever the sender feels that there is a need to communicate some information to the other person (receiver), he/she starts the process of communication. The sender must be aware of the purpose of the communication and the receiver's abilities to understand the message in terms of language, interest, etc.

2. Message: The message is created by the sender to convey the information, facts or opinion to the receiver. The message should be clear and simple so that the receiver can understand it in the same way as the sender desires. While creating a message, the sender should take care of words, language, and meaning of the message if the message is to be communicated in verbal or written form or he/she should take care of body language and facial expression if the message is to be communicated in nonverbal form, along with the abilities and professional competencies of the receiver.

3. Channels of communication: Communication channels are the medium through which the message is communicated to the receiver. Channels of communication play an important role in the process of communication. If the sender selects an appropriate medium or channel of communication, there are more chances that the receiver will receive the same message; or else, there are chances that the message may get distorted. In this hi-tech era, there are a number of channels that can be used to communicate message, e.g., mobile, e-mail, voice mail, person, radio, TV, Internet, blogs, etc. Through proper channel is a common phrase used among the nurse administrators/managers that signifies the importance of communication channels. For example, a student of B.Sc nursing, II year, wants to communicate hostel problems to the director of the institute. In order to reach to the intended receiver first, he/she should communicate his/her message in the form of written application to the class teacher; the class teacher will forward the application (message) to the principal and finally the principal will forward the application to the director. That is how communication through proper channel takes place. In this case, the class teacher and principal were the channels of communication through which the message was communicated to the receiver (director).4. Receiver: The receiver is the person who receives the message. The receiver may be a single person or a group of persons. The receiver understands the meaning of the message and provides feedback to the sender. The receiver should have the same language ability, comprehension, and cultural background as the sender. If not, it may lead to distorted understanding of the meaning of the message by the receiver.

5. Feedback: It is the most crucial element of communication. It is provided by the receiver to the sender. Receiving feedback is important for the sender to know that the receiver has received the message and interpreted the meaning of the message in the desired way. Without feedback, the process of communication cannot be complete. For example, when you send a mobile SMS to your friend, you get feedback in the form of delivery report that informs you whether your message has been delivered or not to the intended receiver; it also happens in the same way in the case of e-mail.