Untitled Quiz

Introduction to Communication - Therapeutic Communication

• Therapeutic communication is a purposeful, interpersonal, information-transmitting process that leads to client understanding and participation.
• Its purpose is to build trust, provide emotional support, and facilitate patient-centered care.
• It helps improve patient outcomes, adherence to treatment, and satisfaction.
• Key elements include information exchange, mutual respect, and dealing with health issues.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to describe different types of therapeutic questioning (open, closed, funnel, probing, rhetorical, and reflective).
• They will apply appropriate questioning techniques in therapeutic scenarios.
• Students will compare the effectiveness of different questioning styles in eliciting information and promoting client engagement.
• Students will critique the use of active listening and questioning techniques in their communication audit assignment, identifying areas for improvement.

Questioning

• Questioning is crucial for gathering information, clarifying understanding, and guiding patient reflection.
• Effective questioning leads to a deeper understanding of the patient's needs and concerns.

Types of Questions

• Different questioning styles exist, including open, closed, funnel, probing, leading, and rhetorical questions.
• The appropriate style depends on the specific situation and desired outcome.

When to Use and Not Use Different Types of Questions

• Closed questions: Used for specific information gathering; avoid when exploring emotions.
• Open questions: Use for detailed responses; avoid in emergencies.
• Funnel questions: Used to explore topics progressively; avoid if the patient is already focused.
• Probing questions: Used to clarify details; avoid if the patient becomes uncomfortable.
• Leading questions: Avoid in most therapeutic settings.
• Rhetorical questions: Use for emphasis, but avoid when seeking genuine responses.

Therapeutic Communication (Core elements)

• Active listening
• Empathy
• Trust and rapport
• Non-judgmental attitude

Techniques to Demonstrate Empathy

• Acceptance: Acknowledges a patient's emotions and affirms that they have been heard.
• Giving Recognition: Acknowledges and validates positive health behaviors without overt compliments.

Active Listening (Eau, 2022)

• Clarification: Asks the patient to further define what they are communicating.
• Focusing: Focuses on a specific statement that seems important.
• Exploring: Gathers more information about the patient's communication.
• Paraphrasing: Rephrases the patient's words and key ideas to clarify the message.
• Restating: Uses different words for the same content to encourage elaboration.
• Summarizing: Demonstrates active listening, verifies information, and encourages corrections if necessary.

Non-judgmental Attitudes

• Reflecting: Encourages patients to be accountable for their actions and helps them come up with solutions.
• Providing Silence: Allows quiet time for self-reflection.
• Offering Self/Providing Presence: Shows patients that they are valued and that the nurse is willing to spend time with them.

Therapeutic Techniques

• Offering Hope: Encourages patients to persevere and be resilient.
• Offering Humor: Lightens the mood and contributes to togetherness, but tailor it to the patient's sense of humor.

Barriers to Effective Communication

• Environmental distractions (noise, interruptions)
• Emotional reactions (stress, fatigue)
• Cultural or language differences
• Time constraints

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

• Effective questioning and active listening are crucial for therapeutic communication.
• Understanding different types of questions helps nurses gather relevant information, improve patient relationships, and provide holistic care.
• Active listening, empathy, and reflective communication are vital skills in nursing.