Effective communication is the foundation of excellent medical treatment, especially in relationships between healthcare professionals and patients. The ability to actively listen is essential for developing a relationship with patients, comprehending their needs, and providing individualized treatment. In the study, we will look at healthcare communication between a nurse and a depressed patient, emphasizing active listening techniques, their importance, a technique that was not used, its effects, and the function of a patient advocate.
Active Listening Skills Employed
Reflective Listening
The nurse effectively uses reflective listening, an essential element of efficient communication. She confirms comprehension by reflecting on the patient’s thoughts with this talent (Admission of Patients with Depression: Crying, 2020). By responding, “It sounds like you’re feeling quite overwhelmed,” the nurse demonstrates compassion and recognizes the patient’s feelings. By building a deep connection with the patient, this method demonstrates that they are valued and understood.
Open-Ended Questions
The nurse’s open-ended questions skillfully urge patients to reveal further information regarding their experiences and feelings (Gordon et al., 2020). Asking, “Can you elaborate on how you’re feeling?” The nurse encourages the patient to speak freely. By using this strategy, the nurse can provide more individualized care, making it easier to understand the patient’s emotions fully.
Significance of Identified Skills
Reflective listening is essential as it demonstrates empathy, fostering a sense of validation for the patient. By acknowledging their emotions, the nurse reduces the patient’s apprehension, encouraging them to share more (Majeed & Jamshed, 2020). The utilization of reflective listening in this scenario establishes a foundation of trust, enhancing the patient’s willingness to engage in their care journey.
Open-ended questions hold immense value in healthcare communication. They empower patients to share their thoughts and feelings, leading to more accurate assessments and personalized care plans. The nurse’s skillful use of open-ended questions ensures that the patient’s perspective is comprehensively understood, contributing to a more holistic approach to care.
Unapplied Active Listening Skill
Recognition of Nonverbal Cues
However, the nurse fails to acknowledge and respond to the patient’s nonverbal clues, such as body language and facial emotions. These signs frequently describe feelings that words might be unable to (UC Irvine Previously Published Works Title Thinking about Feelings: The Development and Organization of Emotional Knowledge, n.d.). The nurse could miss important clues about the patient’s emotional state by ignoring these signs.
Impact of Skill Omission and Strategies for Improvement
Misreading a patient’s emotional health is possible if nonverbal indicators are not recognized. To lessen this, the nurse can take training to improve their perception of and reaction to nonverbal cues (Center for Creative Leadership, 2019). Gaining a more profound knowledge of the patient’s emotions and adjusting their communication as necessary would be possible for the nurse if they comprehend facial expressions, posture, and gestures.
Role of a Patient Advocate and Interventions
As a patient advocate, I would have actively monitored the patient’s nonverbal cues and informed the nurse of what I discovered. The nurse may be inspired to pay more attention to nonverbal clues and modify her verbal approach in response to showing worry for the patient’s evident unease, as seen in their body language (Olesen et al., 2023).
In conclusion, effective healthcare communication relies on active listening abilities that provide understanding, compassion, and personalized attention. Establishing a connection and learning about patients’ emotions can be accomplished with the help of reflective listening and open-ended questioning. However, understanding nonverbal clues is just as crucial for precise comprehension. Advocating for patients can significantly contribute to raising the standard of healthcare interactions by aggressively promoting the patient’s needs while addressing communication issues.
References
(2020). Admission of patient with depression: crying [Video]. Sage Knowledge. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529729566
Center for Creative Leadership. (2019). Active Listening: Improve Your Ability to Listen and Lead, Second Edition: Vol. Second edition.
Gordon, H. S., Solanki, P., Bokhour, B. G., & Gopal, R. K. (2020). “I’m Not Feeling Like I’m Part of the Conversation” Patients’ Perspectives on Communicating in Clinical Video Telehealth Visits. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(6), 1751–1758. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-05673-w
Majeed, N., & Jamshed, S. (2020). Nursing turnover intentions: The role of leader emotional intelligence and team culture. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13144
Olesen, M. L., Rossen, S., Jørgensen, R., Udbjørg, L. L., & Hansson, H. (2023). The usefulness of a Digitally Assisted Person-Centered Care Intervention: Qualitative Study of Patients’ and Nurses’ Experiences in a Long-term Perspective. JMIR Nursing, 6(1), e46673. https://doi.org/10.2196/46673
UC Irvine UC Irvine Previously Published Works Title Thinking about feelings: The development and organization of emotional knowledge. (n.d.). https://escholarship.org/content/qt65n420dz/qt65n420dz.pdf
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