Chapter 24, Problem 1CAQ

Summary Introduction

To describe:

How would you approach Mr. S? Which communication techniques would you use and which would you avoid?

Case summary:

Mr. S is a 78-year-old patient has been living alone as his wife died last year. His cooking skills are limited and he used to eat more. He has poor control of blood sugar. The dietician came to help Mr. S to gain sugar control. After the dietician left, Mr. S was angry at her and stated that the dietician doesn’t know anything and he wanted to leave the hospital immediately.

Explanation of Solution

The nurse would approach Mr. S in a polite manner by sitting down in a chair by facing Mr. S. This action will convey the willingness of the nurse to listen to the patient’s thoughts, concerns and feelings.

The nurse would use the communication technique of sharing observations or providing a general open statement such as “You look angry today” or “Tell me what happened”. Stating the observations would often help the patient to begin the conservation and to open up their issues to the nurse.

The nurse should avoid defending the dietician though it is important to defend the colleagues, it is more important to allow the patient to verbalize his controversies with the dietician in a non-judgmental manner.

Conclusion

The way of approach and the communication technique that is used by the nurse on Mr. S and also the things that the nurse should avoid during communication in the given scenario is discussed.