UHS ARISE Nursing Newsletter June 2018

ARISE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 15 | JUNE 2018

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION IN NURSING PROFESSION INSIDE THIS ISSUE

INTRODUCTION THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES IMPORTANCE TO NURSES

INTRODUCTION Nursing is a caring profession. In as much as the scientific aspects of nursing is growing due to the complex technological advancement, the fact still remains that nurses are the first persons that the client usually comes in contact with in any emergency or hospital setting.

Having said this, the term, “caring" is an essential emotion that all nurses must possess. With caring comes the trained ability of the nurse to facilitate therapeutic communication.

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ARISE Newsletter | June 2018

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION Communication can be defined as “The Process of transmitting messages and interpreting meaning." (Wilson and others, 1995).

With therapeutic communication, the sender, or nurse seeks to illicit a response from the receiver, the patient that is beneficial to the patient’s emotional, mental and physical health.

Nurses use therapeutic communication to provide patients with support and information while maintaining a level of professional distance and objectivity. It may be necessary to use a variety of techniques to accomplish nursing goals in communicating with a patient.

Everyone has seen an individual that looks like they are either angry, stressed, feeling ill or maybe sad. These emotions are communicated to others not always by words, but by gestures and facial expressions.

A nurse must always be aware of these expressions in clients, for these expressions may be the only way that the nurse can tell if there is something else going on that needs their attention.

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ARISE Newsletter | June 2018

17 THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES 1. USING SILENCE At times, it’s useful to not speak at all. Deliberate silence can give both nurses and patients an opportunity to think through and process what comes next in the conversation. It may give patients the time and space they need to present a new topic.

2. ACCEPTING Sometimes it’s necessary to acknowledge what patients say and affirm that they’ve been heard. Acceptance isn’t necessarily the same thing as agreement; it can be enough to simply make eye contact and say “Yes, I understand.” Patients who feel their nurses are listening to them and taking them seriously are more likely to be receptive to care.

3. GIVING RECOGNITION Recognition acknowledges a patient’s behavior and highlights it without giving an overt compliment. When you say something like “I noticed you took all of your medications”, it draws attention to the action and encourages your patient without requiring a compliment

4. OFFERING SELF Hospital stays can be lonely and stressful; when nurses offer their time, it shows that they value their patients and that someone is willing to give them time and attention.

5. GIVING BROAD OPENINGS Therapeutic communication is often most effective when patients direct the flow of conversation and decide what to talk about. To that end, giving patients a broad opening such as “What’s on your mind today?” or “What would you like to talk about?” can be a good way to allow patients an opportunity to discuss what’s on their mind.

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ARISE Newsletter | June 2018

6. ACTIVE LISTENING By using nonverbal and verbal cues such as nodding and saying “I see,” nurses can encourage patients to continue talking. Active listening involves showing interest in what patients have to say, acknowledging that you’re listening and understanding, and engaging with them throughout the conversation. Nurses can offer general leads such as “What happened next?” to guide the conversation or propel it forward.

7. SEEKING CLARIFICATION Similar to active listening, asking patients for clarification when they say something confusing or ambiguous is important. Saying something like “I’m not sure I understand. Can you explain it to me?” helps nurses ensure they understand what’s actually being said and can help patients process their ideas more thoroughly.

8. PLACING THE EVENT IN TIME OR SEQUENCE Asking questions about when certain events occurred in relation to other events can help patients (and nurses) get a clearer sense of the whole picture. It forces patients to think about the sequence of events and may prompt them to remember something they otherwise wouldn’t.

9. MAKING OBSERVATIONS Observations about the appearance, demeanor, or behavior of patients can help draw attention to areas that might pose a problem for them. Observing that they look tired may prompt patients to explain why they haven’t been getting much sleep lately; making an observation that they haven’t been eating much may lead to the discovery of a new symptom.

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10. ENCOURAGING DESCRIPTIONS OF PERCEPTION For patients experiencing sensory issues or hallucinations, it can be helpful to ask about them in an encouraging, non-judgmental way. Phrases like “What do you hear now?” or “What does that look like to you?” give patients a prompt to explain what they’re perceiving without casting their perceptions in a negative light.

11. ENCOURAGING COMPARISONS Often, patients can draw upon experience to deal with current problems. By encouraging them to make comparisons, nurses can help patients discover solutions to their problems.

12. SUMMARIZING It’s frequently useful for nurses to summarize what patients have said after the fact. This demonstrates to patients that the nurse was listening and allows the nurse to document conversations.

Ending a summary with a phrase like “Does that sound correct?” gives patients explicit permission to make corrections if they’re necessary.

13. REFLECTING Patients often ask nurses for advice about what they should do about particular problems or in specific situations. Nurses can ask patients what they think they should do, which encourages patients to be accountable for their own actions and helps them come up with solutions themselves.

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ARISE Newsletter | June 2018

14. FOCUSING Sometimes during a conversation, patients mention something particularly important. When this happens, nurses can focus on their statement, prompting patients to discuss it further.

15. CONFRONTING Nurses should only apply this technique after they have established trust. It can be vital to the care of patients to disagree with them, present them with reality, or challenge their assumptions.

Confrontation, when used correctly, can help patients break destructive routines or understand the state of their situation.

16. VOICING DOUBT Voicing doubt can be a gentler way to call attention to the incorrect or delusional ideas and perceptions of patients. By expressing doubt, nurses can force patients to examine their assumptions.

17. OFFERING HOPE AND HUMOR Because hospitals can be stressful places for patients, sharing hope that they can persevere through their current situation and lightening the mood with humor can help nurses establish rapport quickly. This technique can keep patients in a more positive state of mind.

Some of the emotions associated with therapeutic communication: Professionalism, ConďŹ dentiality, Courtesy, Trust, Availability, Empathy, and Sympathy.

All of these emotions go into the nurse-client relationship, which must be established by the nurse as soon as possible upon ďŹ rst meeting the client.

The nurse should be trained in interpreting the message that the client is sending, such as fear, pain, sadness, anxiety or apathy. Only then can the nurse determine the best therapeutic approach.

ARISE Nursing Newsletter from University Hospital Sharjah

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ARISE Newsletter | June 2018

Don’t Forget

UHS Medical Times

To Check UHS Medical Times For

JUNE

HEALTH DURING RAMADAN

As it is the month of Ramadan, the June edition gives insights on the health aspect of observing fasts.

Ramadan is an excellent time to start your physical fitness journey while you are on a spiritual journey.

Fasting has numerous physiological benefits and supports weight loss by giving you a chance to re-assess your meals and improve your eating patterns.

Fasting during Ramadan can improve one's health, but only if done in the proper manner. Of course, moderation is key to health. Starting your Iftar meal with a warm soup comforts the stomach after a long day of fasting, replenishes your body with fluids and helps prepare the digestive system for this blessed meal.

When the body is starved of food, it starts to burn fat so that it can make energy. This can lead to weight loss. However, if you fast for too long your body will eventually start breaking down muscle protein for energy, which is unhealthy.

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This edition briefly describes how fasting benefits health, the guidelines for a healthy diet and how people with common health complications can schedule their intake of medicines.

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ARISE Nursing Newsletter from University Hospital Sharjah

Call: +971 6 505 8555 or Mail: info@uhs.ae