Question

how can you use communication to be most effective to your patients.

1. How would you respond appropriately to patients with abnormal behavior patterns( depression, anxiety, aggression)?

2. How would you provide support to a terminally ill patient? What are the stages of grief that they maybe experiencing?

3. How would you assist the patient in navigating issues and concerns that may arise with insurance policy information, medical bills and physician orders.

Answer 1

Answer to Question No.1:

Mental health affects the behavior of an individual. When abnormal behavior become extreme, it turns to psychological disorders. Such patients experience panic attack, break down, feeling suicidal etc.

There are some strategies to use in order to communicate with them.

• Listen to them with patience and concentration. Do not make judgments.
• Acknowledge their feeling.
• Try and find out the cause for their disturbance.
• Ask them what would make them feel better.
• Do not argue with such patients.
• Avoid confrontation.
• Reassure them.
• Distract or divert the topic.
• Engage and encourage them in daily physical activities.

Answer to Question No.2:

• Create a care plan that can be followed by all care providers.
• Ensure the patient that you are willing to listen to them.
• Provide physical comfort to the patients as they might be going through a lot of pain, irritation and other problems.
• Help the patient manage emotional and mental distress.
• Include physical acts such as a handshake, a gentle massage to make them feel connected.
• Encourage family members to share their good memories.
• It is also equally important to support and educate the family members about the patients symptoms and implications.

Stages of grief:

The stages of grief of a terminally ill person involves a series of five emotions – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Denial: At this stage the individuals deny the truth and are in a state of shock.

Anger: The individuals become frustrated after understanding the truth and starting to live in reality.

Bargaining: This stage involves having a false hope and the willingness to return to normal life.

Depression: It is due to the grief and the situations or emptiness that a patient feels. The patients mostly feel withdrawn from life.

Acceptance: Patients enter into the reality and accept the consequences of their disease.

When patients go through these phases, it is necessary to provide them with emotional and mental support.