Question

1. Conversation is both an art and an essential nursing tool. If you had 30 minutes to spend with each of the following patients while doing a procedure that allows you to communicate, what would you talk about (communicate) and why?
   • An older adult recently admitted to a long-term care facility
   • A 6-year-old boy newly admitted to a hospital for asthma
   • An HIV-positive, 33-year-old man who has just been given the news that he has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
   • A 45-year-old amputee who has been in a rehabilitation hospital for 3 weeks after a motorcycle accident
   • A 19-year-old woman who has just had an elective abortion and is in the recovery unit
   • An unconscious patient in a critical care unit
2. An experienced nurse observes your distress after leaving the room of a patient who has just told her family that her cancer has recurred and is in an advanced state. She tells you that you better “toughen up” if you want to survive in nursing. She counsels not getting emotionally involved with patients and families: “Become a rock.” How do you respond to this nurse and why? Of what value, if any, is empathy

Answer 1

1. An older adult recently admitted to a long-term care facility

Hello, Mr.X, Hope you are doing well, I am your nurse...........I will be available here to help with you in all your needs.You can trust me and share all your informations with me. I will assist you in all your activities and help you to get recover fast.

(Make the patient feel comfort in the new environment, to collect informations)

2. A 6-year-old boy newly admitted to a hospital for asthma

Hello, can you tell me your name once again, so that i can confirm your name. Tell me when your symptoms of this episode started first? What activitiy triggered your sympttoms? Did you participated in any vigourous play activities? How you feel now? let me check your vitals and saturation.Its not painful, so shall we start?

3. An HIV-positive, 33-year-old man who has just been given the news that he has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Hello, Are you mrs. X? I am your nurse........... Hope you are doing well and good. I came to know your condition, its not a matter to worry, we have ART medications available, which can reduce the virus load in your body. We also have self help groups of same kind of people, where you can meet them and communicate with them. Following good hygienic measures, prectising good nutritional pattern can imorove yor life style and you can stay health. Dont think that HIV is a burden. Their are lots of people in the country living with this disease. Can you tell me some additional informations like your marital history, sexual pattern, your childrens etc if you never mind?

(provide psychological support to cope up with the new health status)

4. A 45-year-old amputee who has been in a rehabilitation hospital for 3 weeks after a motorcycle accident

Hello, Mr.X..I am your Nurse.......How you feeling right now? Did your pain reduced? Let me check your wound site for any bleeding first... Ok its seems like, wound is getting healed well. I will check your vitals first, then go for a wound dressing. Are you regularly doing the stretching exercise that our physiotherpist taught you? Dont hesitate to d it ok.. It helps you to gain power to your muscles. Once the wounds are healed, we can plan for prosthesis. They will be very helpful for you and you can lead a normal life. Nothing to worry ok. We all are here to help you..

5. A 19-year-old woman who has just had an elective abortion and is in the recovery unit

Hello, Ms.X..I am your Nurse. How you feel now? Do you have pain? Ok, let me check you vitals first. Its normal, nothing to worry. you are small age now, uou have enough time to welcome for your baby. Once you discharged, engage in your family matters and do well. Your husband and family all here to support you.

6. An unconscious patient in a critical care unit

Hello, Mr.X..I am your Nurse.......How you feeling right now? I am going to check yor vitals now. I know you are listening to me. Your body is responding well to the medications. You are really amazing. Come back soon, we all are here to help you. Let me change your position and administer the medications.

Response to the senior nurse

Yes madam, i am agreeing to you.I just felt so sad by seeing the young patient. But its because of empathy. Putting myself into others shoes. Expressing empathy is highly effective and powerful, which builds patient trust, calms anxiety, and improves health outcomes. Empathy helps me to build a trusting connection with those by focusing on their point of view. This strengthens communication and gain an understanding of how they are coping and what they are experiencing.