Listening is also a very important communication skill needed in nursing. Nurses need to have the ability to actively listen to doctors and patients’ needs to give quality care. Through listening, nurses put aside their own perceptions and demonstrate
Elements of Caring According to Watson’s theory of caring there are three different elements that a nurse must recognize to provide such care. The first is carative factors; this takes into account that the nurse must be self-aware of her own judgment and emotional barriers to connect intimately, and at the same time preserving the patient’s dignity in a professional manner. The second element is the transpersonal caring relationship (Lachman 2012); it reviews the conscious and moral commitment to make a longstanding connection with the patient. The final element is the caring occasion or moment, this involves knowing and being able to recognize the right time, right place and the right situation in which caring can take place. Case of Caring Lachman (2012) describes a scenario in which a nurse proves competent in being a patient advocate and providing a level of care exclusively for this individual.
A caregiver, while providing supporting care can instill a sense of strength. Nursing requires special consideration. The patient must be treated as a whole not just physically and not just medical. To better adhere to this practice, nurses use what is called as the nursing process. An actual nursing process is a practice of an outcome-oriented execution to find the best possible care for a person.
Vulnerable Population and Self Awareness Nurs 440 May 27, 2013 Vulnerable Population and Self Awareness There are many types of vulnerable populations in today’s society that are vulnerable to certain illnesses or diseases. One of the most common vulnerable populations is the elderly. As the age increases most often it also corresponds with cognitive changes, specifically dementia. Chronic illnesses in the elderly increase their vulnerability and begin to be more dependent on others for assistance. Upon growing older there many choices to be made and one of the most difficult is having to place the elder person in a nursing home when he/she is no longer capable of being independent.
The necessity for nurses to be able to communicate effectively is vital for the continued care of patients. More specifically, it is crucial that Nurses are able the change their language patterns and vocabulary, depending on the person they are talking to. The communications a nurse has with their patient is completely different to how a nurse would speak to a fellow Medical Officers (MO). There must be a strong, clear wording, instruction and diagnosis when talking to colleagues; otherwise there may be confusion as to the treatment of a patient. However, when speaking to a client, using jargon and medical terms can be considered as inappropriate and confusing for the people involved.
2.1 Explain why it is important to find out an individual’s communication and language needs, wishes and preferences. Some people have communication difficulties, people with Autism, dementia or people who are physically unable to speak. In order to support individuals with communication difficulties their needs, need to be understood of the difficulties they face. It is really important to recognize that people are individuals. The way you communicate with mrs a will be different from the way you communicate with Mrs B.
Verbal communication is either done face to face or on the telephone. Non-verbal communication is done through body language, hand gestures and movements; which takes up to 80% of communication. (Wadsworth, 2009). If you are unable to communicate in a good manner with a patient this could damage the relationship between the two and result in the patient unable to have a level of trust with the nurse. The purpose of this essay is to explore the importance good communication skills has within the nursing profession.
“This article provides the reader with a framework in which to take a full and comprehensive history from a patient” as stated by (Lloyd & Craig, 2007, p. 42). Several skills the nurse needs to possess is good communication, not making the patient fell intimidated or hurried, proper environment, and performing the history process in a sequential order. The first thing the nurse must do is prepare the environment for the history taking process. This area needs to be a neutral place that the patient is comfortable, safe, and free of interruptions. (Lloyd & Craig, 2007, p. 42) stated, “It is essential to allow sufficient time to complete the history.
There are many steps to take in order to improve communication skills in nursing such as honesty, availability and responsiveness. The first step towards effective communication in nursing is honesty. As nurses, we may often find ourselves making promises that we can’t keep. This could be anything along the lines of, “I’ll be back in 2 minutes” or “The doctor will be with you shortly.” Although we may have good intentions, and we may often forget the promises we make, our patients are relying on us to be honest and follow through with these promises. It is important not to make promises we cannot keep.
Once the nurse has began establishing a relationship with their patient, they must be careful to not pass or show any judgment on a patient’s decisions, beliefs, values, or culture. The professional nurse should demonstrate sensitivity to diverse cultural needs and ethnic backgrounds. Having an open mind is always necessary when dealing with such a wide array of people in the public as a nurse would be. Because healthcare is a continually expanding field, a professional nurse should be willing to stay up to date with continuing education or seminars, learning new and better ways to provide the best care possible for patients. The nurse should reflect a high degree of professionalism to patients, the public, and other professionals.