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A good rapport with families can improve patient care

Nurse Leader Insider, July 7, 2016

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In addition to making the nurse’s job easier, a good rapport with a patient’s family can improve patient outcomes as well. It turns out that open communication between family members and nurse staff can have a multitude of benefits. For the patient and family, having an advocate that can influence care can help avoid mistakes and other errors that could harm a patient’s care. The nurse benefits by having an “expert” on the patient who can help them communicate and adjust their care to the patient’s specific needs. The hospitals themselves can also benefit from the improved patient satisfaction surveys that can dictate Medicare payments.

Facilities have started to acknowledge the importance of good communication between nurses and families by instituting new policies and training programs. Hospitals are forming family-advisory councils to encourage family members communicate with nurses and physicians. Workshops are popping up around the country to help nurses develop communication skills for working with patients’ families.

For more information, check out the Wall Street Journal article.

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