Despite having a limited knowledge of dentistry, I did have a substantial belief that any individual who works in a role that requires communication would benefit by utilising effective communication skills. This view primarily stems from my three-year experience as a cashier at a supermarket. Serving an average of 1000 customers per week, a major a part of my role involves communicating effectively with customers to ensure they enjoy their experience and return to the store. Assertive communication, questioning and using appropriate communication and language for the context are some of the more frequent skills I employ as a cashier. However, occasionally customers disclose personal hardships and feelings. Regardless of the story’s repetition, …show more content…
This is referred to as empathetic communication (T. Norfolk, et al., 2007). In Eric Larson’s journal (2005), JAMA: the journal of the American Medical Association, he discusses the importance of empathy, stating that it enhances outcomes, increases patient satisfaction and reduces anxiety (p. 1000-1006). This view is corroborated by Back and Arnold (2005), who elucidates that empathy demonstrated by health professionals can decrease negative interactions and emotions. In contrast, several studies report that the patient’s acknowledgment of their health-care professionals’ empathy relates to better health outcomes (Decety, 2015). This subsequently suggests that the use of empathy in a professional context can influence patients to return to and promote the practice. Therefore, by empathising with patients, professionals can create better health outcomes, increase business, and reduce anxiety and other negative …show more content…
As a consequence, my understanding of communication skills, and how professionals may utilise these skills in a given context, has increased majorly. Whilst I can establish the importance of rapport building and the use of empathy in both Stiles’ and my current work-role, I am unaware of how vital these communication skills would be in my future profession as a neuropsychologist. However, both work roles are in the health context and revolve around patients. Therefore, I have learnt that there may be times where patients are anxious, nervous, upset and frustrated. In these situations, I will have to apply effective communication skills in order to perform my job effectively. In order to reduce or dissipate these negative feelings, Stiles suggests to employ the skill of empathy. This view has been corroborated by Eric Larson, a clinical professor ("Department of Health Services: Eric B. Larson",
Hojat, M., Louis, D. Z., Maxwell, K., Markham, F., Wender, R., & Gonnella, J. S. (2010). Patient perceptions of physician empathy, satisfaction with physician, interpersonal trust, and compliance. International Journal of Medical Education, 1 (4), 83-87.
Not only is professional communication important in the portrayal of a good nursing image and behaviour, it also plays a vital role in patient care and health outcomes. The ANMC standards serve as a good guidance on the need to establish therapeutic relationship through effective communication. As nurses spend relatively more time with patients, they play a significant role in bridging a patient and doctor. Hence, it is would help for nurses to constantly hone their communication skills through experience over time.
This involves the nurse understanding a patient’s situation and the pain they may be experiencing (physical and/or emotional). Nurses should learn the situation of their patients so they can provide them with the correct help and empathize in a therapeutic way. Resonating with the patient will make them feel comforted as well as thankful. If a nurse does not show empathy, the patient will feel lonely. (use references to back up the need for empathy in estab an effective ‘nurse-client’ relationship)
In conclusion, breakdown in communication is evident in the described scenarios suggesting its importance in effective team working. I demonstrated honesty and it was successful in managing these situations. In practice, ethical dilemmas could arise, but the patients’ best interest is still paramount and is dependent on the maintenance of trust between the dental team and the patient
Bylund, C., Peterson, E., & Cameron, K. (2011). A practitioner’s guide to interpersonal communication theory: An overview and exploration of selected theories. Patient Education and Counselling. Volume 87. Issue 3. Pages 261- 267. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2011.10.006.
What the research proved, was the enrichment of patients and an improved treatment outcomes. Empathy was the key to the success, thus a huge strength surrounding patient care (2011). However, I personally view empathy with many limitations. Epistemological Assumptions are one limitation when practitioners listen with third ears. For example, when a doctor doesn’t listen to the patient, rather, listens to the family or nurses. (2003) Practitioners will sometimes focus on feelings, not meanings. This in its self can be limiting, depending on the issue. If it’s a trauma, moving past the devastation is virtually impossible when focusing on the emotions it brings. Finding meaning in the experience, will allow the patient to heal. (2003). The expert knower, further undermines the patients story by creating superiority over the patient. All of these diminish the client and their experience, further breaking the bond of the client therapist
Communication involves the exchange of information between two or more people. Whether verbal or nonverbal, communication serves as the bridge that allows people to share ideas and thoughts. Clinical professionals converse with patients, relatives, and other professionals daily. Conversely, despite having multiple encounters with patients every day, physicians fail to enact the necessary communication and interpersonal skills to effectively listen, instill confidence, and promote following medical advice in patients.
This is because, conversing empathetically can lead to better outcomes as it can have positive effects on client’s anxiety, pain, and hopelessness (Williams & Stickley, 2010). As well, it enables clients to cooperate more effectively towards treatments (Arnold & Boggs, 2015). Being empathetic promotes a humanistic interaction where the main objective is to make one feel understood and appreciated. By gathering data through the client’s words and actions, the nurse can use this information to carefully construct an appropriate response that will make a client feel that his or her feelings have been acknowledged (Monica, 1979). Furthermore, for a nurse to efficiently demonstrate empathy, nurses must be aware of their own biases and avoid bringing these personal views into the health care setting as these can negatively affect the client (Williams & Stickley,
Communication plays a vital role in all areas of healthcare, yet its importance is often overlooked. Whether it is a doctor talking to patients about treatment options, or strangers comforting one another in a waiting room, communication is happening everywhere and almost always, we underestimate how important it is and how it truly affects our medical experience. In the movie The Doctor, this is exactly what happens, causing a whirlwind effect of emotions and learning.
Listening can be defined as empathy, silent, attention to both verbal and nonverbal communication and the ability to be nonjudgmental and accepting (Shipley 2010). Observing a patient’s non-verbal cues, for example, shaking or trembling may interpret as an underlying heart condition that may not have been addressed (Catto & Mahmud 2012). Empathy is defined as being mindful of and emotional to the feelings, opinions, and encounters of another (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary 2009 as cited in Shipley 2010). Providing an environment conducive to nonjudgmental restraints allows the patient to feel respected and trusted whereby the patient can share information without fear of negativity (Shipley 2010). For example, a patient who trusts a nurse builds rapport enabling open communication advocating a positive outcome (Baker et al. 2013). Subsequently, repeating and paraphrasing a question displays effective listening skills of knowledge learned (Shipley 2010). Adopting a therapeutic approach to listening potentially increases the patient’s emotional and physical healing outcomes (Shipley 2010). Nonetheless, patients who felt they were genuinely heard reported feelings of fulfilment and harmony (Jonas- Simpson et al. 2006 as cited in Shipley 2010). Likewise, patients may provide
Empathy is an important concept in nursing because it enables nurses to relate to patient’s experiences and recognize their feelings (Mercer & Reynolds, 2012). Empathy and compassion encourages patients to share personal thoughts or feelings and helps them feel relaxed and secure (Doherty & Thompson, 2014). In regards to patients’ own definition of quality of care, empathy appears to be a key factor in primary care (Mercer & Reynolds, 2012). According to the Nursing Best Practice Guideline recommendations, empathy falls under a requisite capacity for establishing therapeutic relationships (RNAO, 2017). The professionals say, “empathy is the ability of the nurse to enter into the client’s relational world, to see and feel the world as the client sees and feels it, and to explore the meaning it has for the client” (RNAO, 2002, para 21). Empathy refers to understanding and expressing what the client’s health care experience entails from the client’s perspective (CNO, 2009). Critical components include validating and resonating with the meaning of that experience (CNO, 2009). The nurse-patient relationship is dynamic and interactive and it is within this dynamic interplay that empathy exists (Maruca et al., 2015). Taking part in a therapeutic relationship directly impacts patient care which leads to positive patient outcomes and accurate diagnosis (Doherty & Thompson, 2014). Empathetic relationships entail understanding the perceptions and needs of the patient, empowering the patient to learn and cope more effectively, and reducing or resolving the patient’s problems (Mercer & Reynolds, 2012). Not only does a strong therapeutic relationship improve patient care but it also contributes to the health professional’s satisfaction and sense of accomplishment (Ozcan, Oflaz & Bakir, 2012). Moreover, empathy strengthens the
Empathy is defined as the capacity to experience the feelings of another as one’s own (Walker & Alligood, 2001). It is important as a nurse to know what to say, the techniques to express empathy and different approaches to patients when using empathy (Walker & Alligood, 2001). The skill of empathy is being taught across nursing schools, including Loma Linda, because of how vital it is in the nurse patient relationship. Patients are at a vulnerable state when they are in the hospital and sometimes taking the time to listen and empathize with the patients makes all the difference as well as strengthen the relationship. In the article by Alligood and May (2012), it mentions that empathy is hand in hand with the respect for individual rights, concern for welfare of the individual and a “human knowing” of the nurse-patient relationship. Empathy helps focus on a psychosocial aspect which nurses tend to forget when providing care (McCrae, 2012). Providing empathetic care is providing holistic
Clinical interactions between patients and healthcare professionals is one of the most important parts of medical care. Over the years the medical profession has become more patient driven. The clinicians are starting to focus more on the patient’s views on consultation and overall care. Empathy is a necessary part of this clinician-patient interaction. I believe that Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and imagine life from their perspective. A clinician who is empathetic will be able to better assist the patients that he or she is caring for, because they take time to listen to their patients and use what they learn about the patient to care for them more effectively. Patients can tell whether the healthcare professional is being empathetic and this can also play a large role in the health outcome of patients.
Rapport and empathy are two essential skills for communication in health services. In this integrative essay, it is displayed how rapport and empathy play an important role for communication in health services, such as counselling and psychotherapy. Empathy helps building rapport with the client. Both skills are needed in counselling, because once the client has found trust in the counsellor there is a bigger chance of them opening up about their feelings. If a client has a good rapport with the counsellor, they are less likely to discontinue the sessions. A five minute non-scripted video is included with this essay and will be referred back to, while describing and discussing rapport building and empathic listening. The video’s content is a first interview with a client, where the client tells the counsellor about a troubling issue. At the end a self-reflection is included, which will reflect upon the video, the challenges faced and future improvements for personal improvement upon communication skills.
It is about the personal understanding and treatment of the patient as an individual, interpreting the situation from their perspective. Gain a complete understanding grounded in professional and research-based knowledge of clinical practice; personal reflection and a consciousness of the patient’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. (Olckers, Gibbs & Duncan 2007: 2-3) Empathy involves gaining insight into patients’ backgrounds, core values, relationships and medical history through dialogue. Chochinov 2007: 1877 - 1877. Reflective Dimension:..