To fabricate a competent relationship of trust and knowledge between Nurse and Patient, the utilisation of interpersonal skills and therapeutic communication are fundamental and must be taken into account (Hargie, 2010). Hargie (2010) explains, nowadays, having powerful interpersonal skills as a Nurse to achieve personal and expert growth is highly acknowledged in both work and social related connections. Over the span of their expert lives, Nurses will work and care for a wide assortment of individuals in many different circumstances.
Amid these associations, Nurses should have the capacity to successfully speak with clients not only to assemble clinical data for Nursing assessment but to also use their therapeutic interaction skills with the assistance of the Nursing Standards and Ethics (SteinParbury, 2008). Relating therapeutically with clients demonstrates the capacity Nurses have to connect rather than become just a person of care. One major component of being a Nurse is reflecting on your own actions as it is imperative and considers self-acknowledgement and personal improvement (Hannigan, 2001).
This paper will be a reflection of my knowledge and competency in the context of communication skills, focusing on closed and open ended techniques and the use of body language; displaying my qualities and my weaknesses that need improvement, and how these tools for Nurses help perfect the nursing process. Closed questions are a communication technique that has the ability to only require short, sharp answers and gives the questioner a feeling of control of the amount of data and information being exchanged (Ash, 2007).
In conducting the initial assessment with the client, strengths were gained by using the questions provided in the Heath Assessment Sheet. As a weakness this resulted in the narrowing of my focus to completing the interview task in the shortest way possible rather that endeavouring to connect with the client in a person centred way. After using this communication skill I wasn’t able to really focus on getting valuable data that would have permitted me to see all the more completely the patients feelings and viewpoint.
Physiologist Eve Ash explains since they ar lains, since they are called close ended questions, they sometimes have a pessimistic meaning however they are very effective as they give you control and structure of a conversation and actually give the individuals being addressed a feeling of comfort and satisfaction (Ash, 2007). If I continued using closed ended questions while communicating with patients I would be giving up the chance to build client trust and therapeutic connection.
Communicating with clients in the future I will use extensive techniques such as open ended questions to invite and connect with patients rather that overpowering the interview. Open questions are a type of communication skill that allows broad, in-depth and longer answers and gives the power back to the person being questioned (Ash, 2007). For example, the typical questions that may be asked are why, how, explain or elaborate, and this leaves the person open to answering in the way they choose.
After the interview with the patient I read over their medical history and asked them a few open questions to clarify, elaborate and dig deeper so I could fully understand the patients feelings and perspective. As I only used open-ended questions at the end of the interview I felt the patient wasn’t invited to share more information about themselves. Communications expert and consultant, Sandy Roth, explains how it is important to use open-ended questions rather than closed as it allows for more information to be revealed and that it helps build and guide relationships (Roth, 2000).
Further recommendations and improvements for future interviews or assessment would include using this communication tool throughout the interview to connect therapeutically with the client and also allow invitation for the client to express themselves helping me to receive and obtain more data for proper clinical assessment. This style of communication not only gives control to the client but it also allows further interaction using question and answering in combination with the art of body language.
Body language is the physical behavioural patterns of nonverbal communication (Fast, 1970). From the way you sit, stand, look or act in certain way can contradict your verbal communication. Body language was a major benefactor when it came to interviewing the client. I chose to sit upright, look at the patient when they spoke me and also used my hands to describe what the patient is feeling to clearly obtain useful data and information for assessment.
All of these factors were nonverbal communication techniques that helped gaining trust, invite the patients to express more and clearly understand the similarity in my verbal and non-verbal gestures. Author Julius Fast (1970) states,” Body language can include any non-reflexive or reflexive movement of a part, or all of the body, used by a person to communicate an emotional message to the outside world. ” This statement has helped me analyse what could improve or do better when interviewing patient in the future.
Next time, i would ask and invite the patient to use reflexive or non-reflexive movements to help express and demonstrate their feelings and perspective so I can full understand and get a better understanding of their thoughts and needs. Ultimately, the methods of closed questions, paraphrasing and using assertive language have been determined to need further development. I need to concentrate on the real purpose of patient interviewing which is obtaining information rather than being the fasted interviewer in the room.
Even though I found I was too persistent in my commitment to use closed questions was more successful at maintaining eye contact and being assertive. I was able to acquire appropriate information from the individual. I did complete all sections of the form, yet I failed in developing a therapeutic relationship with the patient and this is something that I must be aware of next time I complete a patient interview. Eventually, the strategies for closed, open and body language as types of communication skills and techniques have been used effectively however do require improvement.
I have to focus on what the motivation behind the interview which is getting data for clinical assessment as opposed to finishing the task the quickest. Despite the fact that I discovered I was excessively using closed questions rather than open, I found my body language and use of non-verbal communication was effective. The Health Assessment sheet was thoroughly checked and completed however reflecting back I didn’t build a strong and confident therapeutic relationship and this in turn for the future will defiantly be a barrier to improve on.