Nonverbal Communication In Hospice

The article The importance of communication in sustaining hope at the end of life by Maureen Hawthorn, breaks down different types of communication skills and tools health professionals encounter while working in a palliative care environment. These types of communication skills and tools Hawthorn discusses were therapeutic communication, holistic person centered care, communication skills, poor communication, the six-step SPIKES protocol, hope and the fostering hope.

This paper is an academic critique of an article written by Lautrette, et al. (2007) titled: “A Communication Strategy and Brochure for Relatives of Patients Dying in the ICU” and accurately reflected the content of the article and the research study itself. The abstract explained the article in more detail, while remaining concise. The type of research study, sample size, variables, intervention, measurement method, findings, and conclusion were all mentioned in the abstract.

My perception of palliative and Hospice care has changed slightly when it comes to communication with the family. I walked into the hospice unit mentally preparing myself to talk with patient families about their loved one and the dying process; this was certainly not the case. The family and the patient did not want to be bothered unless comfort interventions needed to be carried out and there was no conversation to be had about the patient and his situation. This shows that each family is different, each patient is different; and we need to respect and accommodate their unique

Communication is key to effective healthcare practices. According to American Journal Of Critical Care (2014), Patient-centered care starts with “effective communication, being empathetic and available, avoiding personal prejudges, and listening therapeutically are integral parts of patient-centered care” (Riley, White, Graham, Alexandrov, 2014, p. 320). This will improve communication; promote patient involvement in care, which creates a positive relationship with the healthcare provider and medical team. This results in improved adherence to treatment plan. Clinical practice guidelines need to be implemented for the patient and family members to be able to be involved in informed decision-making regarding healthcare needs. The fundamental core of nursing is to have a partnership with the patient and their family regarding the patient’s outcome.

Communication involves information being sent, received and decoded between two or more people (Balzer-Riley 2008) and involves the use of a number of communication skills; which in a nursing context generally focuses on listening and giving information to patients (Weller 2002). This process of sending and receiving messages has been described as both simple and complex (Rosengren 2000 in McCabe 2006, p.4). It is a process which is continually utilised by nurses to convey and receive information from the patient, co-workers, others they come into contact with and the patient’s family.

Nonverbal communication is perhaps the most important way we communicate with each other. Types of nonverbal communication include gestures, facial expression, and posture (McCorry & Mason, 2011). Nonverbal communication is constantly used in healthcare to express feelings, give direction, and to indicate comprehension. During wayfinding, I had the opportunity to use my knowledge of nonverbal communication skills to help two patients. The first instance that I used nonverbal communication skills was with an elderly gentleman who needed the hospital room number of a good friend. The clerk at the information desk had difficulty explaining to the gentleman the location of his friend’s room. I

Communication is any form of expressing and receiving of messages between individuals. The importance of Communication in the nursing profession is to maintain high quality care for the patient but also maintain effective collaboration between professionals. Boykins, D (2014) states that the “registered nurse is expected to communicate in various formats and in all areas of practice”. Various formats include speaking to patients and coworkers as well as utilizing appropriate protocols and systems to effectively communicate regards to patient’s status.

Communication between the patient, family, clinicians, and nurses is important in inquiring the needs and wants of the patient and family. Noome et al. (2016) recognized that ICU nurses described their role during end-of-life care as a professional who communicates information to patients and family on treatments, procedures, and prognosis while providing comfort. Effective communication about advanced directives and disputes over end-of-life care decisions may lead to acceptable compromise and solution between all parties involved (Blackler, 2016). Clear communication and understanding is needed in order to provide high quality care.

This research article indicates addressing the communication problems in a hospital setting between the doctors, nurses and any other medical team member since effective communication is paramount with end-of-life care. Having effective communication with the patient and patient’s family members will improve the overall satisfaction of care during a loved one’s end-of-life care. In a time of a health crisis, the patient and patient’s family members may not be sure of what is going on or what is to be expected. They may not have enough knowledge about their diagnosis or comprehend the meaning. In the research most family members felt they had unfilled communication needs, had feelings of being a burden, left abandoned, felt a lack of trust

Communication in a care setting allows the staff, service users and visitors to help build a relationship and bond between them. As a way of promoting diversity, different relationships can be established with several types of communication.

Incorporating education about patient death can provide emotional support for what is to come. Marilyn Smith-Stoner (2011) suggested that the most commonly taught curriculum, "Patient-centered care" is useful for nurses for coping with the event that they have a hospice patient. Patient-centered care (PCC) involves five dimensions: biopsychosocial, patient-as-person, sharing power and responsibility, therapeutic alliance, and doctor-as-person. Patient-centered care's focal point is communication. Skilled communication that includes descriptions of events, time for questions to be asked by the patient and family, for the nurse to listen to whatever they need at the time of death. "End of life care and communication that is patient centered may need to be accomplished in a short time frame of minutes to a few hours. Because the dying period can go so quickly, we need to educate healthcare workers and students in the unique needs of patients who are imminently dying" (Stoner, 2011). Proper education for proper communication benefits the nurse and the patient for a better and smoother end of life care. It prevents and reduces ethical complications during their

Poor communication causes misunderstandings, misdiagnoses, and implementation of ineffective/improper treatment plans which can negative affect patient care and health outcome (Coley, 2015). The problem is lack of communication among the interdisciplinary team in a hospice home health agency. This paper will propose a strategic plan to promote the completeness and timeliness of communication within the hospice organization.

This essay will discuss the importance of communication as an aspect of partnership within current nursing care. As stated by Brooks and Heath (1985, as cited in Bramhall, 2014), communication is “a process during which information is shared through the exchange of verbal or non-verbal messages” (p 53). Maintaining communication between the nurse and the patient regarding treatments and emotions contributes to improved patient-centred care. The communication between the nurse and their family is equally as important when the patient is unable to make medical decisions for themselves. With the implementation of family centred communication, a partnership can further be established. With reference to literature, the benefits of maintaining

Hospice’s main focus is on the patients and their needs. As shown on www.nhpco.org, the website for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, their vision for patients and families is one where individuals and families facing serious illness, death, and grief will experience the best that humankind can offer (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 1). With this in mind, those who are involved with Hospice work to provide patients with relief from their symptoms and try to lift the weight off of their shoulders, also known as the Palliative Care part of Hospice. Hospice care involves a team-oriented approach, where members of the organization will work together to ensure the the patient, and their family as well, receive compassionate care (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 1). This includes physical care, such as pain management, emotional care, such as relieving stress, and spiritual care. Emotional and spiritual

Communication, in healthcare, is a multidimensional concept that involves patients, family members, and a health care team. There is a direct correlation with communication, improving a patient's well being, and quality of care. Adequate communication among physicians and their patients is an actively growing research topic. Results supplied by such studies have provided effective recommendations for oncologists and their team. These recommendations include the patient-physician relationship, how physicians utilize medical information, how physicians deal with patient emotions, physician self-management, and educational conferences designed to sharpen communication. Communication is important during each phase of cancer care.