Question

A nurse enters the room of a patient who is scheduled to go for surgery within the hour. The nurse observes the patient gazing out the window and that the patient's eyes are filled with tears. The nurse asks, “Are you okay?” The patient responds, “Don't worry. I'll be fine.” what is the nurse's most appropriate response?

1. "what are you thinking about?"
2. "I'll be here if you need to talk."
3. "Don't you think everything will be alright?"
4. "when people cry, it usually means something is wrong."

Answer 1

Answer: "I'll be here if you need to talk."

Effective communication between patient and nurse plays an instrumental role throughout a patient's entire healthcare experience. In nursing fundamentals, the nurse-patient relationship is defined as a helping relationship that's based on mutual trust and respect and assisting with the gratification of your patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through your knowledge and skill.

There are three basic phases of communication: (a) introductory, (b) working, and (c) termination.

You will use these three phases to understand your patient’s problems and come up with solutions. In the introductory phase, you will introduce yourself, discuss any problems, and establish a relationship with your patient. Remember not every patient is cheery and upbeat. You will face sometime the patients who are scared, angry, or discouraged. It will be your job to think of ways to establish an amicable relationship. Also, if a language barrier is present, this would be the best time to contact a translator.

The working phase is where you identify the patient’s problem. For example, suppose the patient diagnosis is chest pain. In this phase, you would look further into why the patient is having chest pain using labs, scans, or physician notes. You would look for any resolution to the problems. The working phase is where the problem is identified and measures are taken to help the patient.

The last phase, the termination phase, is where the problem is being resolved. In the preceding example, if the patient was given pain medication as ordered and the problem has resolved, the nurse’s communication with the patient would come to an end.

Your patients are talking with you in the role of their problem solver, the one who makes them better. Communication is the key to nursing; it involves constant talking with patients, families, and physicians.

Answer: "I'll be here if you need to talk."

In nursing fundamentals, the nurse-patient relationship is defined as a helping relationship that's based on mutual trust and respect and assisting with the gratification of your patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through your knowledge and skill.

There are three basic phases of communication: (a) introductory, (b) working, and (c) termination.

You will use these three phases to understand your patient’s problems and come up with solutions. In the introductory phase, you will introduce yourself, discuss any problems, and establish a relationship with your patient. Remember not every patient is cheery and upbeat. You will face sometime the patients who are scared, angry, or discouraged. It will be your job to think of ways to establish an amicable relationship. Also, if a language barrier is present, this would be the best time to contact a translator.

The working phase is where you identify the patient’s problem. For example, suppose the patient diagnosis is chest pain. In this phase, you would look further into why the patient is having chest pain using labs, scans, or physician notes. You would look for any resolution to the problems. The working phase is where the problem is identified and measures are taken to help the patient.

The last phase, the termination phase, is where the problem is being resolved. In the preceding example, if the patient was given pain medication as ordered and the problem has resolved, the nurse’s communication with the patient would come to an end. Your patients are talking with you in the role of their problem solver, the one who makes them better. Communication is the key to nursing; it involves constant talking with patients, families, and physicians.