Communicating with Patients

Communicating with Patients

1. Applying Critical thinking

   • Helps overcome bias and stereotypes
     • -to obtain the most accurate information about the patient, without distorting the info 
   • during the assessment
     • obtain an accurate diagnosis

2. Five levels of Patient communication

   • Intrapersonal
     • Builds self esteem 
   • Small Group
     • be organized, concise and complete
   • interpersonal
   • Public
     • Increases audience knowledge
   • Electronic
     • Helps patients to stay engaged and informed 

3. Ways to improve

   • Avoid
     • -false reassurance  -personal questions  -approval/disapproval  - arguing  -passive or aggressive  - changing the subject  - personal opinions  - automatic response 

4. Nurse -Patient Helping relationship

   • nurse establishes and directs the interaction  - convey willingness to listen to patient  - socialize in the beginning to build trust  - listen to patients story, concerns and experiences 
   • Preinteraction
     • review data
     • consult other caregivers
     • private interaction
   • Orientation
     • anticipate test of competence
     • Superficial
     • observe and assess patient
   • Working
     • encourage patient to express feelings
     • provide info need for patient to make changes
     • therapeutic communication
     • Appropriate self disclosure
   • Termination
     • Evaluate goal
     • achieve smooth transition
     • reminisce about relationship with patient

5. Patients with impairments

   • Alternative devices
   • Measures to implement for special needs
     • Use writing board or special call system
     • Interpretation
     • Use of pictures, drawings
     • simplicity
       • Use close ended questions  ask one question at a time  Use size 14 font  -communicate with touch (unresponsive patient) 
   • SOLER
     • Sit facing patient Open position Lean toward patient  Eye contact Relas
   • Share
     • hope
       • Don't give a false sense of hope, rather say (I know you will get through this) 
     • feelings
       • Acknowledge their feelings and encourage them to share  - share your feelings of caring 
     • empathy
     • humor
       • -it humanizes the illness 
   • use silence or touch

6. Older patients

   • DONT
     • Patronize or condescend 
   • face the patient
   • speak clearly and a little slowly
   • Use a well lit room