Enhancing the use of Makaton in nurse education and practice

Makaton is a unique multimodal language programme that uses signs, symbols and speech. It offers a flexible communication system that can be used across settings with a wide range of people, including those with learning disabilities or communication difficulties. This article explains what Makaton entails and how it can be used to aid communication with service users. The authors suggest that Makaton should be integrated in preregistration nurse education for all fields of practice, particularly learning disability nursing. Effective communication skills are essential for all nurses and learning Makaton as part of their preregistration education programmes could improve their competence and confidence in engaging in meaningful dialogue with people who find it challenging to communicate verbally.