Abstract This paper discusses therapeuticcommunication from the point of view of the writer's clinical experiences as a nurse. It discusses the concept of therapeuticcommunication and how important verbal and nonverbal communication is with patients. The paper presents a case study that the writer was involved in and discusses how therapeuticcommunication was successful or unsuccessful in this scenario.
Table of Contents:
Clinical Experience
The Concept of TherapeuticCommunication
From the Paper "Even when the nurse has experience with therapeutic communication, there can still be the problem of a breakdown in that communication. The nurse can have empathy, respect for the person, and use active listening skills, but the problem could still come about. The reason it happens is that the nurse also needs to do critical thinking. That kind of thinking means that that she is always assessing the patient and the situation (McNabb, 2006). Another point is that sometimes it can be very difficult to see things from the perspective of the patient. Bournes and Mitchell (2002, p. 59) state, "health is the way people go on and live what is important to them, moment to moment and day to day". Health for me is very different than it is for a person such as Mrs. A. The only way I can understand her experience is by empathy and through active listening."
Abstract This paper is a case study, based upon a nurse's experience with a particular patient suffering from dementia. The purpose of the study is to illustrate how therapeuticcommunication, greater sensitivity and cultural awareness, may help increase patient trust and the efficacy of nursing care in difficult situations. The paper concludes that it is very important in any situation to put the patients and their perspective first. It suggest developing a plan of care that integrates empathy for the patient, background knowledge of the illness, and awareness of the patient's cultural backgrounds.
Outline:
Looking Back
Analysis
Revision
New Perspective
From the Paper "Although we knew Helen was very frightened and could not understand the situation, there was no attentive listening to her needs and concerns (Grover, 2005). We both knew that Helen was beginning to suffer from dementia. Dementia refers to "a progressive illness of cognitive, functional, and physical deterioration" (Helton & van der Stern, 2006, p. 222). On reflecting on the situation, I came to understand how ethical issues are involved. One of these issues is respect for persons because we were so taken with our efforts to stop the bleeding that we ignored the person and her needs. Another ethical issue is beneficence or doing good because the panic she felt may have worsened her dementia. Another issue is cross-cultural. Helton and van der Stern (2006) found that when dementia is involved both patients and family members have painful emotional needs take priority over everything, even decision making."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the term healthcare communication can refer to all types of communications used in the healthcare industry, be it communication between and among healthcare agencies, healthcare providers, and healthcare clients. In this paper, however, the writer concentrates on the topic of healthcare communication between healthcare providers and their patients-clients. The paper emphasizes the importance of this communication and looks at the current movement in healthcare education to bring back the human touch into healthcare practice in order for medicine to regain its soul.
Outline:
What is Healthcare Communication?
Relevance of Healthcare Communication Emergency Room Situations
Confidentiality
Dealing with Family Issues
Dealing with Sociocultural Issues
Communication in the Process of Healing
Principles of TherapeuticCommunication in Healthcare Settings
Verbal communications Verbal communications Nonverbal communications
From the Paper "Communication is an exchange, a two-way process. But sometimes this is forgotten in the healthcare setting when the patient-client becomes the passive, receiving end while the healthcare provider does all the talking and fails to listen. However, for healthcare delivery to be effective, there should be an exchange of information between the two parties.
"Healthcare providers have a 2-fold responsibility towards their patients who are basically their clients. First, they must have the technical skills, and second, they much have the ability to communicate and empathize. In other words, a healthcare professional does not only need the brain and skill to perform his/her work. He/she must also have his/her heart into it."
Abstract The paper examines literature of a peer-reviewed nature supporting effective communication skills in the nursing practice. The paper relates that there are probably no skills that are as critical in nursing as communication skills. The paper reviews a study of negative communication skills of nursing staff and case studies that identify positive interactions in communications between nursing staff and patients. The paper concludes that nurse's communication skills have a great effect on outcomes for patients.
Outline:
Introduction
Review of the Literature
Summary
From the Paper "In the study of Tfouni, LV; de Carvalho, EC; Scochi, CG (1991) Discourse, institution, power: an analysis of the nurse patient interaction. The work of Tfouni, de Carvalho, and Scochi (1991) was a study conducted for analysis of nurse-patient interaction. The study is composed of approximately 20 dialogues among five nurses and twenty patients in which the 'mechanics of conversation were analyzed. The results of this study showed "an asymmetry in the interaction, a fact that qualifies the nurse-patient interaction as one of control, domination and effacement of individuality. These factors show that ideology of the hospital institution with respect to the patient is characterized by imposition of authority and alienation." (p.1)"
Abstract This paper argues that nursing in the 21st century will require a more direct focus on leadership and communication skills. As the baby-boomer generation begins to retire and enter their elderly years, nursing will be tasked with a growing number of patients that require specialized care. This fact, coupled with the evidence that there is already a nursing shortage throughout the world, will force modern nurses to contemplate leadership skills, as well as their ability to successfully communicate with patients and staff to ensure that quality care remains the profession's first priority.
Introduction
Leadership
From the Paper "Nursing in the 21st century will require a more direct focus on leadership and communication skills. As millions of individuals of the "baby-boomer" generation begin to retire and enter their elderly years nursing will be tasked with a growing number of patients that require specialized needs. This fact, coupled with the evidence that there is already a nursing shortage throughout the global society, will force modern nurses to comprehend leadership skills, as well as the ability to successfully communicate with patients and staff to ensure that quality care remains the profession's first priority. II Leadership."
Abstract This paper describes a project for an Advanced Practice Nurse to carry out: a community assessment at a senior citizen's day care center. The paper describes how the nurse would make a diagnosis and a plan of action to rectify the problems found. The paper also explains the process of community assessment, its needs, the nursing diagnosis, the plan of action, and the follow-up.
From the Paper "The population chosen is elderly citizens attending a day care center. Assessing this community according to the twelve domains of Purcell's Model of Trans-cultural Health Care ...."
Abstract This paper explains that the position of the telephone triage nurse, by solving problems such as same-day appointment overload in general practice and discussing immediately problems with a health care professional, fills the initiator role, which lays the foundation of care to be provided. The author points out that, without well-defined communication skills, the nurse cannot establish therapeutic relations with the patient; interpreters of languages within the service community assist the triage nurse. The paper states that handling stress is an inherent part of the telephone triage nurse's duties because providing adequate assessments in a reasonable amount of time is challenging, given there's always another caller waiting who may have more serious health issues than the current person on the phone.
From the Paper "My job in this particular situation is to triage the chest congestion statement for either home care advice or an appointment to the clinic to rule out bronchitis or pneumonia. But, in order to triage I first need to obtain clear answers to my questions such as: "Fever?", "Chest pains?" and "Wheezing?". I also need to know what she has done so far to care for herself. Based on the answers to such questions, the computer program I enter the information into will then assign an urgent same day appointment or recommend home care advice. However, it was clear from the start that this particular patient was not at all interested in receiving telephone advice and I feared that she would not qualify for an appointment based on the cold-like symptoms I had gathered from her so far."
Abstract This paper shows how mental health nurses talk extensively about the relationship between the nurse and the patient and the use of this relationship. It is suggested that this relationship is a therapeutic one and this term is often used in the patients? care planning. The paper quesions what exactly nurses want to achieve in this nurse-patient relationship. The author of the paper suggests that one of the primary goals of this relationship should be to move power and control to the patient. Perhaps this could be seen as the objective or end goal of the relationship. The writer also suggests that mental health nurses often inadvertently remove control and power from the patient through the inappropriate use of this relationship. Several power theories, put forth by experts in the field such as Barnett and Hildegard Peplau, are discussed in relation to the writer's developing philosophy of nursing and own practice as a psychiatric nurse.
From the Paper "Taking the time to know the patient is part of enabling empowerment and this is shown in the nurse-patient relationship through Peplau's (1997) theory of interpersonal relations. Peplau discusses the nurse-patient relationship as requiring three phases to achieve a therapeutic value. This involves an interpersonal knowing between the nurse and the patient. There are three phases to Peplau's framework: orientation, working, and termination phases. This writer suggests that in order to move the relationship from the orientation phase to the working phase, the nurse must identify issues of power and control in the relationship. Forchuk et al (1998) cites the relationship as powerful when moving through this transition to the working phase. This involves the nurse being consistent, available and valuing trust in the relationship."
Tags: institutionalization, orientation, communication
Abstract This paper offers a review of the factors that may contribute to the chronically ill person maintaining or not maintaining adherence to prescibed treatment. Chronic mentally ill clients exert considerable energy avoiding loss of control. Both the therapeutic environment and the nurse-patient relationship are contextual factors furthering this goal. The paper looks at the important role played by the nurse in building a strong and reliable relationship with the mentally ill patient, in order to better adminster treatment.
From the Paper "In the last several years, there has been a growing concern for the plight of family caregivers of persons with chronic disease and disability. This focus arose primarily from recognition that chronic disease is becoming a greater problem in our society. In part, this problem is due to the advances in medical science and technology that have prolonged the lives of many chronically ill persons."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the topic of nursing interventions. The paper focuses on the nursing interventions of spiritual assessment and therapeuticcommunication. In addition, the paper looks at how these interventions can support a person suffering from multiple sclerosis.
From the Paper "This type of intervention supports the person suffering by indicating the nurse understands their suffering and their pain, and that they can help them be more comfortable and increase their well-being. While intervention may not make a difference in their actual physical disease, it can make a patient more comfortable, more satisfied, and more at peace with themselves and their circumstances. Patient satisfaction is extremely important for overall patient health and in return visits for continued health care. Studies indicate if patients are dissatisfied or unhappy with their care, they may forego visits or visit another practitioner (Wrench & Booth-Butterfield, 2003). In addition, spiritual intervention can help the sufferers' family cope with the disease and help them give adequate care to the patient at home, which is often much more comfortable for the patient and family and adds to the overall well-being of everyone involved."
Tags: health, care, facilities, chronic, illnesses, ms, isolation, hopelessness, vulnerability, loss, pain, fear
This paper discusses alternative and traditional therapeutic methods and interventions being used to treat children in foster care who often have emotional difficulties that must be dealt with by their caregivers.
Abstract This paper explains that one of the most traditional intervention approaches for foster care children is placing them in a special education class because many children who come into foster care have behavioral, physical and emotional problems that do not allow them to function normally in a standard classroom setting. The author states that as time goes on and the problems of foster care children do not show any great improvement, alternative ideas begin to make their way to the forefront of thinking for those who are involved with foster care children. The paper relates that one of these alternative ideas is to expand the primary care and community-based care for these children, so that they can receive proper healthcare when and where they need it instead of only receiving Medicaid. Another alternative treatment is a mentoring program.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Literature Review
Traditional Therapeutic Methods & Interventions
Alternative Therapeutic Methods & Interventions
Conclusion
From the Paper "Mentors, however, are people in the community that can work specifically with these children on a one-on-one basis. They are often people who have been through hardships in their own childhood. Some of them come from abusive homes, some of them come from the foster care system, and others come from various other hardships and tragedies that they endured as children and young adults. The reason that this is so important for foster children is that these mentors have experiences and problems that they have made it through, and many of these experiences and difficulties are similar to what foster children either will go through or are going through right now. Because of the fact that many of these people have been through the difficulties that these foster children are now facing, they are able to give advice and help in a way that many others would not be able to. They have "been there," and they know what many of the pains that a foster child goes through feel like. This makes them uniquely qualified to give advice and to help these foster children."
Abstract Interpersonal Aspects of Nursing is an important theory that strives to bring the focus of nursing back to therapeutic means of treatment. While the science of nursing has much to do with the quality of patient recovery, Joyce Travelbee's theory suggests that a positive nurse-patient relationship can bring about a favorable patient outcome. The paper presents an overview and critique of the theory and discusses how the theory can be used in professional practice.
From the Paper "Development of ideas should be logical and consistent throughout so thoughts can be interpreted appropriately (Parker, 2006). Regarding clarity, Travelbee's theory is not entirely understandable because major concepts are defined by various means. While Travelbee herself develops some concepts, others are taken from Webster's dictionary and the World Health Organization. I found definitions throughout interpersonal aspects of nursing to be clearly defined, but found inconsistencies in meanings on occasion. Travelbee states the definitions of concepts and then goes on to explain the definition, however, she does had a tendency to use the same definition for different terms."
Abstract This paper discusses the increase of new therapeuticcommunity (TC) programs in prisons across the United States and reviews how TCs should be different for men and women in regard to substance abuse treatment. The main philosophy, tools, and principles of a TC program are looked at, given what is known about women's development and treatment needs.
Outline:
What is TherapeuticCommunity (TC)?
Research on the Female Offender
Physical and Sexual Abuse Histories
Substance Use and Criminal Behaviors
Marital, Intimate, and Family Relationships
Reasons for Gender-Specific Treatment
Outcomes
Conclusion
From the Paper "In recent times, these programs were often cognitive-behavioral, concentrating on the connection of criminal thinking and substance abuse that is thought to be common to the "antisocial personality disorder" male offender. To be precise, programs were customized to the profile of the male offender.
"In the late 1980s, TCs were summoned as not only a way to treat substance abuse, but to initiate values that reduce criminal thinking and activity. Presently, virtually every state in the United States has at least one prison-based TC program, while other states have several."
Abstract This research paper focuses on how effective nurses? methods and procedures are in helping patients relieve their pain. The paper also uses information and data from existing literature and studies to identify some of the problems and issues that exist in the nurse's role in pain management. Furthermore, the study provides information that can improve nurses? performance of their duties and asserts that it is important to assess and evaluate how well they function in the pain management role because this information will improve the delivery of their main and overall responsibilities.
From the Paper "Nurses play a major role in the provision of healthcare to our society. The roles performed by nurses should never be underestimated because the responsibilities they need to meet grow everyday. Among the important duties of a nurse, providing relief to pains is perhaps the foremost concern their profession demands. Their role in assisting patients, and ensuring that patients are in the most comfortable condition, is important to patients? overall treatment and healing process."
Abstract This paper discusses how communication is the central skill in nursing since nothing including the nurse patient relationship is possible without it. Rather than being concerned with the nurse patient relationship this article focuses on nursingcommunication in terms of nonverbal communication between nurses. This paper further discusses how shift report is an especially sensitive time for effective communication since vital information is shared about patients.
