Being Specific
__________ communication commonly leads to misunderstandings between patients, families, and members of the healthcare team.
Vague
Before asking a question, consider these six things (hint: the answer is interrogatives):
Why, what, how, who, when, and where.
What are two things a nurse should do before expressing a professional opinion?
1) Obtain consent
2) Provide a rationale
What's the name of the type of question that allows a patient to express their feelings, thoughts, and concerns in their own words?
An open-ended question.
A patient states that they are feeling dizzy. What kind of a question is this? Subjective or objective?
Subjective, because it is patient-reported.
What does "being specific" mean in the healthcare sense?
To speak clearly, concretely, directly, and detailed where one is able to understand the message that is being expressed.
Questions should have a __________.
Purpose
Why is it important to provide a rationale when expressing a professional opinion?
It helps to support effective communication and helps to build confidence.
A client is suddenly experiencing intense chest pain. What kind of a question should the nurse use to gather more information on this client?
Cosed-ended questions.
The nurse finds that the patient's RR is 16/min. Is this subjective or objective data?
Objective, as it is a measurable finding.
What are three things a nurse should communicate specifically?
1) Thoughts
2) Feelings
3) Observations
When is a close-ended question useful?
It is heavily useful when a nurse needs access to information quickly (i.e., when a patient is experiencing chest pain, etc.).
Expressing opinions makes your voice heard, which can help to prevent _________.
Burnout
A client tells the nurse that they are "suddenly not feeling too good." What is an appropriate response made by the nurse?
"Could you describe to me what you mean when you say you don't feel great?"
Is the statement "the patient appears anxious" objective or subjective? Explain your pick.
1) Objective
2) It is supported by an observable behavior. The term "anxious" alone can be too vague.
Name three things that being specific can help to prevent:
1) Misunderstandings
2) Communication errors
3) Assumptions
Effective questions can encourage client __________.
Participation
Expressing opinions differs from advice in that it is ___________.
Evidence-based
The nurse asks a patient, "Are you experiencing any pain?" What type of a question is this and when is its use appropriate?
1) A closed-ended question
2) When the nurse is relying on getting important information quickly.
In nursing documentation, which of these two responses are more specific and useful?
A. "The patient appeared to be anxious."
B. "The patient was found pacing in the hallway. They stated 'I am feeling nervous.'"
B
A nurse documented that the "patient had no changes overnight." What about this statement is ineffective?
It is a vague statement that doesn't include any specific information or observations about the patient's actual condition.
Name three things that effective questions can help nurses with:
1) Understand the client's perspective
2) Gather accurate information
3) Provide individualized care
Name one case in which it is considered okay to express opinions in healthcare:
1) When helping patients or coworkers make decisions.
A patient has expressed that they are very anxious for their procedure, and the nurse wants to better understand what's concerning the patient. What type of question should the nurse use, and why?
1) An open-ended question.
2) They allow the patient to elaborate further on their concerns.
Identify the main problem with this statement: "The patient reports feeling anxious and appears to be uncomfortable."
There is vague observation in this statement. The nurse should have identified specific observable behaviors that would have lead the nurse to believe the patient was uncomfortable or anxious, as well as identified the patient's exact statement.