Communication for the nurse is as important as any other skill. Just think about it, you have a patient who is post-op; they have not urinated in six hours, the bladder scanner shows they have 575 ml of urine in their bladder. The order states to in-and-out catheterize or straight catheterize them. The patient’s education on the post-op procedures and the surgeon’s orders requires a discussion when they originally came to the room. A simple explanation that they need to urinate within the time window if urination does not occur then we bladder scan if so much urine is found we straight cath or in and out catheterize the patient. When the time comes for the intervention, another discussion of each step of straight catheterization, communication is a skill that takes both parties to grasp.
Stay on task, Focusing and asking questions
The nurse enters the room with a set of goals, whether they educate or assess. Some patients and nurses are easily distracted; as the nurse, this issue needs to be found and dealt with promptly. If the nurse unable to stay on a task before entering the room, make a quick list of items to touch upon with the patient. The list will serve as a guide for when you interact with the patient. Redirecting a hard to focus patient, no matter where the conversation goes, continue to direct them back to the education needed politely.
Be Direct
Just find the words and be direct with your patient. The communication between the nurse and the patient consists of honesty and straightforward discussion. Do not candy coat or bloat the information any more then it needs to be. The best way to be direct is to know what needs to be said. The nurse needs to have a good understanding of the topics being talked about in order to talk or educate patients. For a new nurse, this is intimidating. Ask another nurse or research the topic to know necessary to covey the message.
Be Caring and Appropriate
The nurse’s overall attitude and word choice play a significant role in the perception of the message. When anyone is disrespectful or inappropriate, the message is thrown to the side, and not taken as legitimate. Sitting with the patient, speaking in terms that the patient understands, with a kind and caring attitude will allow your message to be heard and taken seriously. The word, appropriate not only means behavior but the methods in which you educate. Keep in mind your methodology, does the patient speak another language? If so use an interpreter. If the patient has no medical background stay away from medical jargon. I don’t know how many nurses turn to a patient and say, “You will NPO at midnight,” and never explain what NPO means.
The message is the import item here, and making sure the patient or coworker understands what it is you are getting across makes for a better relationship and fewer missteps in the futures. Any stories of good communication or communication that went bad?