Active Listeningīy using nonverbal and verbal cues such as nodding and saying “I see,” nurses can encourage patients to continue talking. 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. Therapeutic communication is often most effective when patients direct the flow of conversation and decide what to talk about. Offering to stay for lunch, watch a TV show, or simply sit with patients for a while can help boost their mood. ![]() Hospital stays can be lonely, stressful times when nurses offer their time, it shows they value patients and that someone is willing to give them time and attention. However, saying something like “I noticed you took all of your medications” draws attention to the action and encourages it without requiring a compliment. ![]() A compliment can sometimes be taken as condescending, especially when it concerns a routine task like making the bed. Recognition acknowledges a patient’s behavior and highlights it without giving an overt compliment. 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. Sometimes it’s necessary to acknowledge what patients say and affirm that they’ve been heard. Nurses should always let patients break the silence. It may give patients the time and space they need to broach a new topic. Deliberate silence can give both nurses and patients an opportunity to think through and process what comes next in the conversation. ![]() Using SilenceĪt times, it’s useful to not speak at all. There are a variety opens of therapeutic communication techniques nurses can incorporate into practice. With therapeutic communication, nurses often use open-ended statements and questions, repeat information, or use silence to prompt patients to work through problems on their own. Nurses provide patients with support and information while maintaining a level of professional distance and objectivity. Therapeutic communication is a collection of techniques that prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of patients.
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