The ability to communicate therapeutically is technical and professional competence. Attitude has little to do with professional competence. The goal of therapeutic communication in health care is to improve the well-being of another person, the client. A nursing student should practice which of the following? A nurse should not engage in probing, which is a common barrier to therapeutic communication. This technique involves asking questions that don’t relate to the patient’s problem and focuses on the nurse’s emotions or perceptions. The nurse should then shift the subject to demonstrate that they are mindful of the patient’s feelings. Which of the following statements about therapeutic communication is correct?
When interacting with a patient, a nurse should make sure that the patient’s focus is focused on what is being discussed. The nurse should always reflect on the client’s priorities. This technique helps reduce the chances of distractions that may impede effective therapeutic communication. When the nurse is focusing on the client, there are fewer distractions. A successful communication session will be productive for both the nurse and the patient.
Making Use of Silence
It can be beneficial not to communicate at all at times. Deliberate quiet can provide a time for both nurses and patients to think about and digest what comes next in the conversation. It may provide patients with the time and space they require to discuss a new issue. Nurses must always allow patients to break the silence.
Accepting
It is sometimes vital to acknowledge what patients say and assure them that they have been heard. Acceptance isn’t always the same as agreement; sometimes, it’s enough to merely make eye contact and say, “Yes, I understand.” Patients who believe their nurses are listening to them and taking their concerns seriously are more likely to accept care.
Recognizing Others
Recognizing a patient’s conduct and emphasizing it without directly complimenting them is an example of recognition. When it comes to mundane tasks like making the bed, a complement can be misconstrued as condescending. However, expressing something like “I observed you took all of your prescriptions” calls attention to and supports the behavior without the need for a commendation.
-Self-promotion Hospital stays can be lonely and stressful; when nurses donate their time, it demonstrates that they value their patients and that someone is prepared to give them time and attention. Offering to stay for lunch, watch a TV show, or simply chat with patients for a few minutes can help lift their spirits.
Providing a Wide Range of Opportunities
When patients direct the flow of conversation and pick what to discuss, therapeutic communication is generally most effective. To that end, asking patients broad questions like “What’s on your mind today?” or “What would you want to chat about?” might be a helpful method to allow patients to express what’s on their minds.
Listening Actively
Nurses can encourage patients to continue talking by providing nonverbal and vocal cues such as nodding and stating, “I see.” Showing interest in what patients have to say, recognizing that you’re listening and understanding, and engaging with them during the conversation are all examples of active listening. Nurses can guide or urge the conversation along by asking generic questions such as “What occurred next?”
A Nurse Should Always Keep the Flow of Conversation Open
A nurse should mirror the feelings of the patient so that they can explore them. A patient should feel comfortable discussing their feelings, even if they don’t want to talk about them. In order to avoid conflict, the nurse should keep the conversation simple and direct. While using open-ended questions is preferable, the nurse should use closed-ended questions when there are problems with the patient’s judgment.
A Nurse Should Focus on the Patient
It is important to remember that the patient’s feelings should be reflected in the conversation. An open-ended question should allow for more information to be shared. A nurse should reflect on the feelings of the patient in order to improve communication. By reflecting on the feelings of the patient, a nursing assistant can help the patient explore their feelings. It is also important to match the tone of voice and facial expressions to the patient.
I’m Looking for Clarification
Asking patients for clarification when they say something puzzling or unclear is vital, similar to active listening. “I’m not sure I understand,” for example. “Can you clarify it to me?” allows nurses to ensure that they comprehend what is being stated and allows patients to absorb their ideas more thoroughly.
Placement of the Event in Time or Sequence Inquiring about when specific events occurred in connection to other occurrences might help patients (and nurses) have a better understanding of the big picture. It forces patients to consider the order of events and may prompt them to remember something they would not have remembered otherwise.
Making Inferences
Observations regarding a patient’s look, temperament, or conduct might assist attract attention to areas that may be problematic for them. Observing that they appear weary may drive patients to explain why they haven’t been getting enough sleep recently; observing that they haven’t been eating much may result in the discovery of a new symptom.
Encouraging Perception Descriptions It can be beneficial to ask about sensory difficulties or hallucinations in an encouraging, non-judgmental manner for people who are experiencing them. Phrases like “What do you hear now?” or “What does that look like to you?” prompt patients to explain their impressions without putting them in a negative light.
A Nurse Should Never Use the Word “You” When Speaking to a Patient
The patient should be able to understand the nurse’s intent. For example, a patient can talk about his feelings of loneliness. This is not the case if the nurse tries to engage the patient in a conversation he/she has with the patient. In this case, he or she should use the words “I’m sorry.”
During a Conversation, the Patient Should Choose What to Talk About
It is best if the patient can decide what to talk about and what not to. A good example of therapeutic communication is when the nurse says, “Do you know the person? Tell me what they are thinking and why.” Then, you can ask them how they feel and how they can be more comfortable with talking to you.
Summarizing
After the fact, nurses can frequently benefit from summarizing what patients have stated. This shows patients that the nurse was paying attention and helped the nurse to log interactions. Ending a summary with a remark like “Does that seem correct?” provides patients clear permission to make changes if they are required.
Reflecting
Patients frequently seek advice from nurses on what they should do in response to certain difficulties or situations. Nurses can ask patients what they think they should do, which encourages patients to take responsibility for their actions and assists them in coming up with answers on their own.
When Using Therapeutic Communication, the Patient Should Be Able to Direct the Conversation.
It Is Better to Let the Patient Decide What to Talk About
This way, the client will feel more comfortable with the person. A nurse can be an effective role model to a patient, but the client must be the one to choose the words. A nurse can influence the patient’s emotional state by promoting a positive attitude and letting them feel safe.
Focusing Occasionally, patients will bring up an essential topic during a chat. When this occurs, nurses can concentrate on their assertion, pushing patients to inquire further. Patients do not always have an objective perspective on what is pertinent to their condition; as objective observers, nurses can more easily identify the issues to focus on.
Confronting Nurses should use this strategy only once they have earned trust. Disagreeing with patients, presenting them with facts, or challenging their assumptions might be critical to their care. When utilized effectively, confrontation can assist patients in breaking damaging routines or understanding the state of their circumstances.
Emotional state and stress level When a client is stressed or experiencing other emotional states such as anxiety, fear, distress, or perplexity, communication can suffer substantially. As a result, in order to overcome this barrier to successful communication, the nurse will strive to ease these symptoms.
Spoken Language as previously discussed, foreign language interpreters are frequently required to facilitate communication with clients who communicate in a language other than English; American Sign Language interpreters may be required to effectively communicate with those who have a profound hearing deficit, and nurses and others may be required to use Braille reading materials for those who are blind.
Doubt Expression
Doubt might be a milder technique to draw attention to patients’ faulty or delusory views and perceptions. Nurses can force patients to question their assumptions by expressing uncertainty.
Restating
By repeating the same phrase back to the customer, restating is done to clarify the client’s message. For example, if a client says, “I’m ready to go for a stroll,” and the nurse responds, “Did I hear you say you’re now ready to go for a walk?”
Reflection
This therapeutic communication strategy reflects and mimics the nurse’s perception of the client’s feelings beneath the words. It mirrors or reflects the patient’s feelings, rather than words, back to the client, allowing the client’s sentiments to be examined and expressed further by the patient.
Consciousness Level
Depending on the client’s level of consciousness along the continuum, some clients are fully capable of formulating and sending a message, as well as the processing and responding to the message; others may only be capable of sending a message OR receiving a message effectively; and still, others may be unable to do either. In addition, the nurse will assess the client’s communication needs based on their state of consciousness and plan care accordingly. For example, a nurse may use touch to indicate caring and the nurse’s presence to a nonresponsive client, and they may use visuals to send messages to a client who is unable to receive and absorb verbal information.
Providing Both Hope and Humor
Because hospitals can be stressful environment for patients, nurses can help patients create rapport immediately by conveying hope that they will be able to overcome their current condition and lightening the mood with humor. This strategy can help patients maintain a more cheerful attitude.
Which of the Following Actions Best Represents a Therapeutic Communication Strategy Quizlet?
Clarifying is a therapeutic communication strategy that involves restating an unclear or ambiguous message in order to explain the sender’s meaning. A therapeutic communication approach that entails a brief recap of essential components of an engagement is summarized.
When Is Therapeutic Communication Most Effective?
Therapeutic communication is most effective when the patient is able to control the flow of the conversation. When a patient is able to control the flow of a conversation, the nurse is more likely to listen attentively and be less distracted by distractions. A patient should not be forced to say something that will interrupt the flow of the conversation. A therapist must learn to follow this rule to be effective. It is important that both parties understand what the other person is saying and how the other can help the patient to be comfortable with this information.
The article listed all the do’s and dont’s that a nurse should follow. When you speak therapeutically, you make your patient feel protected and at ease. That transparency and trust inevitably generate a safe space, which provides your patients with the finest possible experience. This strategy can assist the patient in expressing more information and understanding the patient’s point of view. The nurse should prioritize the client’s needs. Furthermore, he should avoid discussing the patient’s personal troubles and instead concentrate on her broader worries. Communication, a dynamic interpersonal process, is judged effective and therapeutic when all sent messages are fully comprehended by the receiver and when all feedback conveyed by the receiver to the originator of the message is also fully comprehended.
