Communication Basics
This type of communication involves facial expressions, posture, gestures, and eye contact.
What is nonverbal communication?
Repeating the patient's key words to encourage further discussion is known as this technique.
What is restating?
Saying, "Everything will be okay," is an example of this nontherapeutic response.
What is giving false reassurance?
This therapeutic technique helps patients focus on a specific issue when they jump from topic to topic.
What is focusing?
A patient says, "I'm afraid of surgery." The best initial response begins with this communication skill.
What is acknowledging and exploring the patient's feelings?
This communication technique encourages a patient to continue talking by using phrases such as "Tell me more."
What is broad opening or general leads?
"You seem upset about your diagnosis." This technique is called:
What is reflecting?
Asking "Why did you do that?" may make patients feel defensive and is considered this communication barrier.
What is requesting an explanation (asking "why" questions)?
A patient says, "Nobody cares about me." Responding with "Tell me more about that feeling" demonstrates this skill.
What is exploring?
"What concerns you most about your surgery?" is what type of question?
What is an open-ended question?
The process of fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to a patient's message.
What is active listening?
This technique helps patients make their feelings more specific by asking for additional information.
What is clarifying?
Offering personal opinions instead of helping patients make their own decisions is known as this.
What is giving advice?
Presenting reality when a patient experiences hallucinations or delusions is known as this intervention.
What is reality orientation or presenting reality?
The first priority in therapeutic communication is establishing this.
What is trust?
This communication barrier occurs when a nurse changes the subject before the patient finishes discussing a concern.
What is interrupting?
This technique helps patients make their feelings more specific by asking for additional information.
What is therapeutic silence?
"You shouldn't feel that way" is an example of this nontherapeutic technique.
What is minimizing or dismissing feelings?
A nurse responds to a patient's statement by identifying the emotion behind it. This is called:
What is verbalizing the implied?
A patient is crying quietly. The most therapeutic response may be this.
What is sitting quietly and offering presence?
This principle emphasizes that communication should focus on the patient's needs rather than the nurse's experiences.
What is patient-centered communication?
Summarizing information at the end of a conversation helps achieve this goal.
What is validation of understanding or summarizing?
Agreeing or disagreeing with a patient's choices rather than exploring them is called this.
What is approving or disapproving?
This communication approach helps build trust and rapport in psychiatric nursing.
What is therapeutic communication?
A nurse notices a discrepancy between a patient's words and body language. The appropriate therapeutic technique is:
What is making observations or seeking clarification?