Critical Analysis of Communication Techniques and Phases of the Therapeutic Relationship
As first year nursing students, we have been introduced to concepts that are fundamental to our professional development as future nurses, such as interpersonal understanding, and interpersonal communication. In fact, understanding the importance of interpersonal communication during different stages of the therapeutic relationship between a nurse and a client is one of our main learning objectives. As a result, we have been assigned to perform a standardized patient scenario interview with an actor in order to demonstrate our communication skills through three different stages of the therapeutic relationship: the interaction phase, the working phase, and the resolution phase. The purpose of this paper is to critically analyze my own performance during the interview process, and identify my areas for growth and my areas of strength in the communication techniques.
Areas of Strength During the interaction phase, as the client revealed that he was feeling anxious about visiting the physician to discuss the results of a biopsy, I was able to actively listen, and express my genuine interest through appropriate nonverbal communication, and paraphrasing. For instance, when he mentioned his Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, I made sure to nod, maintain eye contact, and verbally genuinely demonstrate my interest in his feelings, and concerns. Additionally, as an attempt to verbally display the
Communication is one of the basic survival skills of human and also a fundamental part of nursing. Effective communication would help to promote a positive nurse-client relationship which is crucial for the delivery of quality nursing care (Sheppard, 1993; McCabe 2003).
The five following questions are a great way to discuss today’s communication in the health care field; this paper will give a better explanation on what therapeutic communications are, cultural blindness as well as cultural competence, and identifying cultural backgrounds. Working in the health care field we use these very few things every day without even realizing it. It is important that health care professionals have a clear understanding about these concepts to provide the proper care to patients.
The whole reason for a therapeutic relationship is to facilitate a successful patient outcome. Each person is unique and has different needs.
In nursing practice, communication is essential, and good communication skills are paramount in the development of a therapeutic nurse/patient relationship. This aim of this essay is to discuss the importance of communication in nursing, demonstrating how effective communication facilitates a therapeutic
McCabe C. (2004) Nurse-patient communication: an exploration of patients’ experiences. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 13, 41-49.
Question #1: Identify the communication skills or actions the nurse used in this nurse client interaction
In this assignment, the author has chose to critically analyse a situation where a second year nursing student Catherine, who is on a 7 week clinical placement is having an issue when communicating with patients at times.
As a nurse, communication is an essential and important factor to building a therapeutic relationship between a nurse and patient as it is the difference between average and excellent nursing care, as it helps maintain a good quality of life and allows nurses’ and patients to interact and provide comfort when needed. The importance of good communication can become apparent with patients especially when they are in the hospital, as it helps the nurses build a positive relationship with patients and helps overcome barriers including physical, psychological and social. A therapeutic relationship is built on many factors which include both verbal and non-verbal communication which helps maintains the relationship and strengthens it due to the positive impact it has not only on the patient’s experience but also the nurse’s.
Therapeutic communication is considered the heart of family nursing practice (Deane, & Fain, 2016). Knowing the different types of communication is vital for nurses, as it delivers an effective relationship between nurse-client affiliation. Effective therapeutic communication is the main key to success.
A nurse-patient relationship is the basic requirements in all practice settings. Its usage is to manage communication between an organization and a public while maintaining boundaries in the therapeutic relationship. Based on Peplau’s interpersonal theory, communication takes place in a nurse-client relationship where therapeutic process occurs involving complex factors such as environment, attitudes, practices, and beliefs in the dominant culture (seu.edu, 2015). The actions of each person in a nurse-patient relationship is measured on the collaboration of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Nurse’s work to attain, maintain, and restore the patient’s health until patient have fulfilled the health care needs. Patient must be guided and provided a well-respected environment until a better health and specific needs are fully considered in the relationship. In this kind of setting, nurse’s must create relationship with patients by communicating receptivity, assimilating the concepts of empathy, trust, genuineness, respect, and confidentiality into their interactions.
Effective communication in the healthcare setting improves recovery rates and reduces pain and complication rates. (Wilkinson et al, 2003). Many complaints to the NHS are attributed to poor communication. Effective communication is reliant on the nurse working in partnership with the patient. It is essential that the nurse establishes a rapport and most of this will be achieved through the use of facial expressions. In my practice, it is important that develop a therapeutic relationship with the patients so that they can be able to put their trust in me. The therapeutic relationship is solely to meet the needs of the patient. In this relationship, there is a rapport established from a sense of mutual understanding and trust. To build a good nurse-patient relationship, I would have to show qualities of empathy, caring, sincerity and trustworthiness. During practice, if I am approaching a patient and the patient looks anxious, I should approach with empathy.
This is an analysis of a taped interview between a nurse and a patient who is taking pre-employment medicals. The information given during the interview, including her name, Pink Cloud is fictitious because of the need of confidentiality. During the interview, objective and subjective data will be collected. The areas of communication focused on in the analysis are verbal, questioning and listening skills. Analysis will be made and later suggestions and recommendations will be made on how to make improvements in the future. To achieve this, direct quotations from the will be used to make references to the three theories being analysed and will be supported by the literature.
Arnold E (1999). Interpersonal Relationships: Professional Communication Skills for Nursing. 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company.
Over the course of the term we have looked at basic aspects of counselling and interpersonal skills, how we understand and relate to them as well as how we have experienced them within our counselling triads. Within the Humanistic schools of theory, we have looked at Person-Centred Counselling, Transactional Analysis and Gestalt, under the heading ‘Integrative learning’. This has allowed me to identify my own preferences and strengths in relation to each theory and apply them in learning triads. I shall also be focussing on interpersonal skills of a more generic nature, and how they can be applied to ease, encourage and explain interactions. Repeatedly this term I have found myself fascinated with the importance of the ‘Therapeutic
Solidarity is generally considered as a communicative approach to improve personal relationships. Individuals may express their feelings, attitude, opinions or belief which are rather indicative of an orientation towards solidarity (Koester, 2006). The core intention of individuals expressing solidarity is mutuality. The individuals convey their solidarity in different ways, which include expressing approval, showing interest, sympathy or claiming common grounds (Koester, 2006). In health care context, solidarity approaches in conversations were used the health professionals to attain various aims. For instance, it is used as a simple way for a medical professional to find out more about the