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In the know: Prepare for a patient interaction

Stressed Out Nurses Weekly, May 5, 2008

Patients will pick up on your fears or prejudices faster than you are even aware of them. Your body does not lie. Your patients are a mirror. Their intuition immediately interprets your subtly raised eyebrow or the few extra inches you create between you and them. No less compassion is required of a nurse than if he or she were a rabbi or minister.

So what can you do?

As soon as you read a diagnosis, or hear something about a patient that produces an "ugh" or "yuck" within, take some extra time before you go into the room.

• Search: Scan your past like a recorder on rewind for any personal history. Just being aware of a past experience will help tremendously.
• Personalize: Always call the patient by his or her name, and ask the patient what he or she would like to be called.
• Imagine: Put yourself in the patient's place. What must it feel like to be this patient under these circumstances?
• Be curious: What is this patient's unique story? Sometimes you may have to do some searching. What is something you both have in common?
• Remember: Your value system is just that—yours.

Source: Stressed Out About Communication Skills, HCPro, Inc., 2007. Order your copy today.

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