Communicating with patients is part of the crucial role a nurse plays in the healthcare field. This is even more important when trying to communicate with patients who have dementia. It is important that all members of each patients healthcare team are aware of what is going on with their care plan so that when they forget, or get confused, their care plan is able to be explained to them in a consistent way. Shadowing on a complex continuing care unit that specializes in dementia care has been an informative and interesting way to learn how a nurse communicates with their patients. This is due to the fact that diagnosis’s, care plans, and other care concerns must be explained to patients multiple times. On all of my shadowing shifts, I have observed my nurse communicating with patients about their care plan. One instance occurred on my most recent seven to midnight shift, where a patient had doctors orders to have a waist belt restraint used when in bed for the night. This patient has dementia and when the the belt was initially put on, he understood why the restraint was being applied, which was to keep him from harming himself by getting out of bed unassisted at night. As the night progressed though, he became confused as to why the restraint was on, and tried to get out of bed multiple times, setting off the bed alarm each time. My nurse, thought would go to his room each time and help him to understand why the restraint was on, having the outmost patience each time. My
Patients in acute care settings are often wholly dependent on the professional care nurses provide to them. Patient safety in intensive care units has long been a topic of interest and is dependent on many factors. Recently, patient safety and outcomes in relation to the staffing of registered nurses (RNs) have been topics of much research to identify how much impact staffing really has on patient outcomes. The overwhelming majority of studies conducted have found that the number of nursing staff providing care is strongly correlated with patient outcomes (Institute of Medicine, 2004).
The practice of nursing utilizes constant communication between nurses, patients, physicians, coworkers, and various other members of the healthcare team. It is clear that effective communication is vital in the provision of safe and effective nursing care. A long history of miscommunication-related medical errors has spurred research aimed toward improving communication and lessening consequent error. Research has identified various forms of communication structure acronyms that when used correctly, allows for a more organized and precise shift report. These acronyms include SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation, and SHARE (Standardize, Hardwire, Allow opportunities to ask questions, Reinforce, and Educate). In addition, studies have identified a more effective shift report location that enhances nurse-to-nurse as well as nurse-to-patient communication. Bedside reporting was explored and determined to be a very effective form of nursing report that increases overall patient safety and satisfaction. Communication improvement is a continuous focus within the healthcare arena and is vital in the provision of safe patient care.
Therapeutic communication is seen as a complex skill that involves much subtlety and requires a range of different approaches (Jones, 2009). The importance of therapeutic communication and professional relationships with patients as a prime means of attaining healthcare treatment found to be the underlying theme in interpersonal relationships ( Arnold and Boggs, 2011). Therapeutic communication can create a nurse-patient relationship that enhances choice and responsibility, improves patient input and cooperation and thereby maximizes care outcomes (Rosenberg and Gallo-Silver, 2011). By integrating knowledge with compassion, the skill of therapeutic communication is regarded as the nurse’s greatest asset in reducing stresses and establishing a bond (Rosenberg and Gallo-Silver, 2011). Therefore, person-centred communication is regarded as the mandatory fundamentals in health professions (O’Toole, 2012). Attaining person-centred communication is often challenging and it is essentially required in health professions (O’Toole, 2012). One of the important basis for patient-centred communication is the effective listening (O’Toole, 2012). This essay briefly explains the various components of active listening skills that enhance therapeutic communication. Finally this essay concludes with a self-assessment of the current knowledge and skills that the author possess, followed by a development plan that shows the goals and strategies that can be used to improve author’s active
he lesson that I can take during patient interactions are to try find the best way to accommodate patient's needs and know my limitations. For example I cannot speak Russian and my patients are Russians with limited English, however, I know they need so much help and education. I rather talk to the nurse manager and refer them to another nurse that can speak Russian or to get an interpreter to help me. It might be seem "I am washing my hands" and try to get rid of them, but my attention was to help them better.
Caring for a patient with dementia in an acute care setting requires an immense amount of patience and clinical support. As the article mentioned, the majority of these patients are being treated for their main diagnosis in addition to other chronic comorbidities, but unfortunately this does not always include their dementia. It is imperative and the importance is often overlooked regarding effective communication for these patients and their families. Regarding communication that works well with dementia patients includes an essential component of adjusting the environment. Close the door to the hallway to decrease noise and distraction, ask permission to turn on a gentle light and turn down the television, then tend to the basic needs the
In the field of health care, communication is essential for proper function in every situation. Poor communication skills can result in perilous and sometimes fatal consequences. Each interaction with coworkers and patients is critical, and effectively communicating is an important means by which quality care is provided. As future health care providers, it is our responsibility to learn to effectively communicate between other providers and patients. Wayfinding shifts were an excellent way to practice effective communication in a health care setting. During my wayfinding shifts, I experienced firsthand the communication process between providers and patients while applying concepts about effective communication with patients and providers.
Communication plays a big role in the health care system. Without effective communication, how will we keep our patients safe? It is imperative for health care workers to have proper communication with their patients. It is also important for interdisciplinary teams to communicate effectively. According to the Joint Commission, seventy percent of sentinel events were caused by failure of communication (Dingley, Daugherty, Derieg, & Persing, 2008). The purpose of this essay is to discuss the seven principles of patient-clinician communication to meet patients’ expectation and using interdisciplinary communication to improve patient safety.
Communication is about more than just bartering of words. It is about comprehending the feeling and purposes behind what is being said. Effective communication is also a two-way street. It is not only how you deliver thoughts and feelings that it is acknowledged and comprehended by somebody in precise way you proposed, but it is also how you understand to achieve the full significance of what is being portrayed and to make the other individual feel heard and understood.
One component of the reading that surprised me was staff relationship and conflicts. We I hear the term medical professionals, I think of a team of people who work flawlessly together without issues until the read chapter eight in Caring For Patients from Different Cultures. "Problems frequently stem from the differing status of both women and nurses in the United States and other countries. In many countries, particularly those of the middle east and Asia, men have much higher status than women. In general, women are expected to obey men" (Galanti, 2015, p148). In the United States, the Social structure is Egalitarian, which in theory means that everyone is equal. Status and power come from an individuals' achievements rather than from age,
The main problem when participating in multidisciplinary collaboration in managing patient care is communication. Without proper communication the patients care and health is compromised. When asked to select contributing factors to patient care errors, nurses cited communication issues with physicians as one of the two most highly contributing factors, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing reports (Dingley, Daugherty, Derieg, & Persing, 2015). With acquire communication between the multidisciplinary team the nurse would not face this type of problems. Ineffective communication among health care team members contributes to patient harm and adverse events, interventions and implementation methods become instrumental
I agree that having a physician that is capable of communicating effectively is the number one reason on what makes the encounter successful. Even though you are making small talk with your doctor in the office, does that mean that the effective communication stops or does it make the communication more effective because you feel like they know you instead of just being another patient? From what I have observed through my job, physicians who value effective communication are viewed as more welcoming and patients are more likely to come
Today’s healthcare society is tasked with meeting outcome measures that promote health and wellness while adhering to organizational strategic goals to lower the overall cost of healthcare services (Menkley, Barton, & Vayo, 2014). At first glance these objectives may not complement one another, yet they are the primary components of healthcare’s Triple Aim (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2017). In order to meet these goals, an understanding of an individual’s comprehension of both written and oral language lays at the foundation of client-centered and effective care. Without this knowledge, individuals and populations will continue to experience healthcare service disparities and suffer poor healthcare outcomes (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2017). An appreciation for the diversity and individual needs of each client must be respected and integrated into healthcare service delivery.
As a child, I constantly thought about what I would be when I grew up. When I was around 7 years old, I was determined to grow up and be a stay at home mother, just like my own mother. I was adamant to become the best mother in the world, one who would pack peanut butter and jelly lunches for her children, and read them stories before bed. I would waltz around the house with my baby doll on my hip, pretending to be a mother. However, that dream changed as I grew older, and throughout my lifetime, I have had many unconventional dreams about my future; such as making a career out of writing holiday cards. It was only recently that I realized I had always loved working with people and the idea of making a meaningful contribution to improving the
Interpersonal communication is a crucial factor in developing therapeutic relationships, being that it is a transaction of information between two or more people. Within the health care environment, interpersonal communication skills are essential not only for nurses, but for all health care professionals alike in order to achieve patient goals, as well as a positive workplace atmosphere. Body language, Meta communication and listening are just some of the vital skills required by nurses to achieve positive communication. Nurses must be aware of what constitutes effective communication to ensure a positive outcome for their clients (O’Toole, 2012, p.4). Standard 9.1 of the National Competency Standards for Registered nurses outlines the interpersonal
Within this one episode you see multiple different lines of communication between patient and care giver. When analyzing each of the aspects of communication you see the good and the bad that these caregivers did when talking to their patients. Being able to develop good communication skills is an important concept of pharmacy. As a pharmacist you should have boundaries though know when the boundaries you have should be taken down.