Scenario
While attending the National Holistic Nursing Conference, you participated in a workshop that introduced the therapeutic communication techniques listed below and discussed how to apply them in nursing practice.
- Setting an intention
- Centering
- Grounding
- Caring
- Healing
- Transcendent presence
- Intuition
When concluding the day’s activities, the presenters asked you to reflect on the professional experiences you have had with patients and to document that reflection in a journal entry.
Instructions
Write a journal entry that addresses the following:
- Using your own words, define therapeutic communication in relationship-centered, holistic nursing care.
- Describe at least 1 nurse-patient encounter where you applied effective therapeutic communication skills in your role as a nurse. Identify which of the therapeutic communication techniques you used and explain how you employed them.
- Describe at least 1 nurse-patient encounter where you could have communicated more effectively in your role as a nurse through the application of therapeutic communication techniques. Identify which of the therapeutic communication techniques you would use and explain how you would employ them.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, it is important to understand the significance of therapeutic communication in providing relationship-centered holistic nursing care. In this journal entry, we will define therapeutic communication and explore its application in nursing practice. Additionally, we will examine effective and ineffective nurse-patient encounters and discuss how therapeutic communication techniques can be utilized in these situations.
1. Using your own words, define therapeutic communication in relationship-centered, holistic nursing care.
Therapeutic communication is the process of exchanging information with patients to ensure a better understanding of their mental and physical health needs. This form of communication ensures the development of a trusting patient-provider relationship where mutual understanding and respect are established. In relationship-centered, holistic nursing care, therapeutic communication should be used to honor the uniqueness of the patient and understand their preferences, needs, and values.
2. Describe at least 1 nurse-patient encounter where you applied effective therapeutic communication skills in your role as a nurse. Identify which of the therapeutic communication techniques you used and explain how you employed them.
During a routine check-up, I had a conversation with an elderly patient who appeared to be struggling with their emotional well-being. Using the therapeutic communication technique of caring, I listened to their concerns and provided emotional support by acknowledging their feelings and reassuring them that they are not alone. I also employed active listening by maintaining eye contact and allowing them to express their feelings without interrupting them. Through this encounter, I was able to gain a better understanding of their emotional health status and develop a plan of care that catered to their unique needs.
3. Describe at least 1 nurse-patient encounter where you could have communicated more effectively in your role as a nurse through the application of therapeutic communication techniques. Identify which of the therapeutic communication techniques you would use and explain how you would employ them.
During a patient’s post-operative visit, I noticed they appeared tense and anxious. In retrospect, I realized that I did not employ the therapeutic communication technique of intuition to probe further into their emotional state. This encounter made me realize the importance of using intuition to identify non-verbal cues that are relevant to the patient’s mental and physical health. In the future, I would use intuition to identify such cues and further probe into the patient’s concerns, thereby facilitating effective communication and improving the patient-provider relationship.
