therapeutic Communication Techniques Flashcards
(30 cards)
Accepting
Indicating reception
-An accepting response indicates the nurse has HEARD and FOLLOWED the train of thought
“yes”
“I understand what you said”
Nodding
Board Openings
Allowing clinet to take initiative in introducing the topic
- Broad openings make explicit that the client has the lead in the interaction
“Is there something you’d like to talk about?”
“Where would you like to begin”
Consensual Validation
Searching for mutual understanding, for accord in the meaining of the words
- For verbal communication to be meaningful, the words used must have the same meaning for both (all) participants
“Tell me whether my understanding of it agrees with yours”
Encouraging Comparison
Asking that similarities and differences be noted
- comparing ideas, experiences, or relationships brings out many recurrent themes
“Was it something like…?”
“Have you had similar experiences?”
Encouraging descriptions of prescriptions
Asking the client to verbalize what they perceve
- To understand the client, the nurse must see things from their perspective
“Tell me when you feel anxious”
“Do tell me what is happening?”
“What does the voice seem to be saying?”
Encouraging expression
Asking the client to appraise the quality of their experiences
- the nurse asks the client to consider people and events in light of their own values
“What are your feelings regarding…?”
“Does this contribute to your distress?
Exploring
Delving further into a subject or idea
- When clients deal with topics superficially, explorign can help them examine the issue more fully
“Tell me more about that”
“Would you describe it more fully?”
Focusing
Concentrating on a single point
- The nurse encourages the client to concentrate the energies on a single point, preventing many factors or problems from overwhelming the clinet
“This point seems worth looking at more closely”
Formulating a plan of action
Asking the client to consider the kinds of behavior likely to be appropriate in future situations
- it may be helpful for the client to plan what they might do in future similar situations
“What could you do to let your anger out harmlessly?”
General Leads
Encouraging to continue
- general leads indicate that the nurse is listening and following what the client is saying without taking away the initiative for interaction
“Go on.”
“And then?”
Giving information
Making available the facts that the client needs
-Informing the client of facts increases their knowledge about a topic or lets them know what to expect
“My name is…”
“These are your medications…”
“Visiting hours are…”
Giving Recognition
Aknowledging, indicating awareness
- Greeting the client by name, indicating awareness of change, or oting efforts the client has mad all show that the nurse recognizes the client as a person, as an individual.
“good morning Mr….”
“you’ve finished your list of things to do.”
Making observations
Verbelizing what the nurse precieves
-Sometimes clients cannot verbalize or make themselves understood
“You appear tense.”
“Are you uncomfortable when…?”
Offering self
Making oneself available
-the nurse can offer their presence, interest, and desire to understand
“I’ll sit with you awhile.”
Placing events in time or sequence
Clarifying the relationships of events in time
- Putting events in proper sequence helps both the nurse and client to see them in perspective
“What seemed to lead up to..?”
Placing events in time or sequence
Clarifying the relationship of events in time
-Putting events in proper sequence helps both the nurse and client to see them in perspective
“what seemed to lead up to…?”
Presenting reality
Offering for consideration that which is real
- When it is obvious that the client is misinterpreting reality, the nurse can indicate what is real
“I see no one else in the room”
Reflecting
Directing client actions, thoughts, and feelings back to the client
- reflection encourages the client to recognize or accept their own feelings
client: “Do you think i should tell the doctor?”
nurse: “Do you think you should?”
Restating
Repeating the main idea expressed
- The nurse repeats what the client has said in approximately the same words the client has used
client: “I can’t sleep. I stay awake all night.”
nurse: “you have difficulty sleeping”
Seeking information
seeking to make clear that which is not meaningful or that which is vague
- the nurse should seek clarification through interactions with clients
“I’m not sure that I follow. Could you tell me more?”
Silence
The absence of verbal communication allows the client to put thoughts or feelings into words, regain composure, or continue talking
- Silence often encourages the client to verbalize, providing that it is interesting and expectant
“the nurse says nothing but continues to make eye contact and conveys interest”
Suggesting Collaberation
Offering to share, to strive, to work with the client for their benefit
- The nurse seeks to offer a relationship in which the client can identify problesms in living with others, grow emotionally, and improve the ability to form satisfactory relationships
“perhaps you and I can discuss and discover the triggers for your anxiety
Summarizing
Organizing and summing up that which has gone before
- Summarization seeks to bring out te important points of the discussion and increase both participant’s awareness and understanding
“So, in summary…”
“Have I got this straight?”
Translating into feelings
Seeking to verbalize client’s feelings that they express only indirectly
- often what the client says, when taken literally, seems meaningless or far removed from reality
client: “I’m dead.”
nurse: “are you suggesting that you feel lifeless?”
