Questions
- It is important that patients are given a sense of autonomy at the end of their life. What is important to emphasize if a patient asks, "will I suffer?"
2. Explain the rational behind the Multi-Disciplinary Team approach to end-of-life
nursing care?
nursing care?
Discussion Question
Explain how active listening can transcend into advocacy when delivering end-of-life
care.
This is the fifth of six articles being offered for Journal Club ACE credit this year. Please forward your answers to melissa.luebbe@ctca-hope.com ,and remember that you must blog in order to receive full credit for that month.
Explain how active listening can transcend into advocacy when delivering end-of-life
care.
This is the fifth of six articles being offered for Journal Club ACE credit this year. Please forward your answers to melissa.luebbe@ctca-hope.com ,and remember that you must blog in order to receive full credit for that month.
I feel active listening is extremely important to determine what the patient/family really want and to help them cope with what is happening . As a nurse, in the past, it has been difficult for me to deal with hospice patients because I am so used to trying to help them get better. I didn't know what to say. I felt bad if I cried with them, ect. Thankfully, I met a great friend and co-worker with many years experice with hospice who showed it is ok to cry with them and just listen to them. She taught me not to be so uncomfortable with it. I am not going to lie, it is still not my favorate subject, but now I am more comfortable with it, thanks to her.
ReplyDeleteVicky, thank you for reminding us how our coworkes are an important part of our nursing career. I have learned alot working side by side with such great nurses. Classroom experience is one thing but real life is another. Tami
DeleteActive listening to a patient in end-of-life care gives the patient autonomy by increasing trust, rapport, open communication, care, compassion, and support within the nurse-patient relationship. Patients need a sense of control over a helpless situation and “being there” for the patient and their family members promotes just that.
ReplyDeleteI agree that pt's need to be given a sense of control in their situation. That goes equally for the family as well in their journey.
DeleteThere’s an old saying that no one, on his/her death bed, wishes that he/she worked more, bought more or owned more. Rather, people focus on their relationships with people, and their legacy. They want assurance that they are forgiven of faults and that they will be remembered for good qualities. Active listening helps patients to sort through their feelings, and it also helps the caregiver to recognize where lost connections can still be made. Nurses play a role in helping this to happen. We provide the services of Mind-Body, Chaplains and Tori the therapy dog, for example.
ReplyDeleteTheresa Rodriguez Minniear
Clinical Research
Theresa, I agree with you that patients don't think about the working more or what they own at that moment they are told that "there is nothing more we can do". I have found patients are more about how long, what will I feel, will I have pain, and can I be around my family? Many families just want some time to absorb the news and many will see their pastoral care or mind-body person to help with some of these questions and concerns. It is amazing what thoughts and concerns some of the patients have and even more assume that we can provide such great support for patients and families.
DeleteTheresa, a very interesting point! I think life is all about the connections we make with people and how we influene each other lives! And it is great that at CTCA we have a lot of the services like animal therapy, pastoral care, and mind-body to help achieve this.
Delete-Amy Lange
3rd floor inpatient
thanks for sharing...this is difficult for me, as I get very attached over the years and it's hard to say good bye. This topic has helped me.
DeleteI agree with Theresa.
DeleteIf you are actively listening to a patient and understanding them, then, you can truly relay a patients' feelings, needs and wishes to the rest of the healthcare team as well as their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI agree Mary. I think as nurses we have to sympathize with our patients and active listening helps accomplish this. We are better able to take care of our patients when we understand their feelings.
DeleteListening is key in every aspect of the quality of care we provide to our patients and their caregivers. When we truly hear their needs it enables us to assist them in making the journey of their death more comfortable, this is an honor.
DeleteActive listening not only helps the patient discover their feelings, it also helps with conveying messages to the rest of the healthcare team. Documetation in the care plan and medical record also helps to convey wishes to the the other members of staff.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kari. Communication among the healthcare team is essential in providing the best care possible, especially to those are at the end of their journey in life.
DeleteActive Listening is important in allowing the patient to verbalize and be understood what is going through the patients mind, what the patients concerns are, and what the patients needs are at that moment. It also allows the patient to work through the initial shock of what the doctor has just told them. This is where the advocacy comes into play on the nurses part. Nurses can help answer questions the patients has, explain hospice, and explain what might be expected as the end nears. This can help patients and their families more than we know.
ReplyDeletePamela,
DeleteI agree, being a nurse advocate entails answering questions and explaining agencies such as hospice. I think it's great that we have resources to turn to when our explanations might not suffice. For instance, a patient of mine was told she may have to look to hospice because there was no more treatment options available. A physician mentioned this in passing assuming the patient knew what hospice was. The patient had never heard of hospice before. She asked me for information. I gave her a brief summary but told her I would give her more detailed information. I asked the care manager for resources and she contacted a hospice nurse who was going to be at the hospital. The hospice nurse was able to give the patient a presentation on hospice and provide her with a deeper understanding.
I love the fact that we have resources such as these to better advocate for our patients!
Informing them on what to expect in EOL is so important and you are right, nurses are front line and one of the best to teach this.
DeleteBy active listening we can be the advocates for the patient. We will know what the patient and family wants, needs or desires at end of life issues. We become in tune to them and can approach them with care
ReplyDeleteI also think it's important to assure the patient that the goal of palliative and hospice at end of life is comfort care. That they will be kept free of pain or any discomfort and that it will be on patients terms.
ReplyDeleteI agree Maria, I've noted that many of the patient's and family members fears revolve around fear that the patient will be in pain during the final days. It is us, as nurses, who carry out the doctors orders and advocate for orders when needed. Our timeliness and effectiveness in caring for the patient's comfort needs, is often the biggest step in establishing the trust relationship.
DeleteWhen we listen to our patients, we can understand truly what they need and how we an promote their quality of life, which is vital during end of life care. By listening to their needs, we can communicate with physicians and the rest of the multi-disciplinary team to advocate for what our patient needs to best support them during end of life.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteActive listening by a nurse advocate can help the pt feel empowered when they may no longer be in a position of "power", as disease progression takes place. In listening, the nurse may find ways the pt can be assisted in feeling empowered once again. This may be in areas of physical comfort, emotional support, spiritual assistance etc.
ReplyDeleteActive listening is important in that it shows care and compassion, can improve nurse-patient trust, and allows for deeper understanding. If we listen and gain a knowledge of a patient’s wants and needs we will be able to better advocate for them. For instance, if a patient expresses concern with how her family will cope without her, the nurse can find the necessary resources to assure the patient that her family will be ok. The nurse can then communicate with the family about the patient’s concern and provide resources for the family. It’s important to use active listening in end-of-life care not only when dealing with the patient, but with the family and the other disciplines involved.
ReplyDeleteGood points Krista. Patients often tell the nurse things that they are scared to tell their families.
DeleteThere is something special, almost sacred, when as a nurse who has known a patient and family briefly, I am allowed to be part of a very difficult and personal time. I've found that I am most effective when I spend time actively listenening and observing my patient and their interaction with their loved ones; and the interactions between loved ones. Getting a feel for the family often gives me a feel for the patient. I find that the trust relationship starts with me, as a nurse. It is important to give knowledgeable and timely answers; to respond to needs quickly. When the patient and family can view the nurse as comptetent and responsive, they will trust and begin to open up. When trust and good rapport are established, then the real advocacy can start. Active listening means really hearing what is important to the patient; religious views, activities and interests, family bonds and friendships. Listening to patient stories or family members recollections, actively engages and pulls the nurse into the circle. Once the patient and family members feel comfortable with a nurse, it is easier for the nurse to introduce topics like living will, power of attorney, comfort care, end of life wishes, pain management; which can often be topics that put people on the edge. It is impossible to effectively advocate for a patient if they do not trust the nurse enough to make their wishes and needs completely known.
ReplyDeleteI agree - without trust, advocating for a patient would be incredably difficult and most likely not nearly as effective.
DeleteBy actively listening we are becoming more than just a nurse who provides the skills and physical care, we can provide emotional care. It allows us to get to know who the patient really is, what their wishes are, and how we can treat them best. By doing this I feel that we are able to care for the patient as a whole and can relay their caring needs to others as well.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your point of providing 'emotional care' in addition to physical care. It's a good term and really accentuates the point of communication.
DeleteThere is a big difference between listening and hearing. We could actually be hearing what our patients are saying; however, are we really truly listening to what they are saying? Active listening is an art and an important skill that each of us should take into consideration and take along with us when we are communicating or conversing with our patients and families. Communication failures between healthcare providers and patients/families could be one of the causes of preventable harm and system failure. I believe always that paying attention to the message conveyed by our clients to the details throughout the communication process can capture non-verbal cues and primitive issues that may not be in the open. This would be the best source of information on how to proceed with their care and address relevant care issues that influence the progress of their care. I think that we just cannot read between th lines of what our patient's concerns are. It is through active listening that we allow them to express themselves without inhibitions and effectively discover their issues. It is crucial that there should be a mutual respect and therapeutic relationship between the patient and the provider to promote optimal outcome. Non-verbal expressions of ourselves and gestures we make can easily be picked up and can become a barrier to effective communication. When engaged in active listening, nurses should not be preoccupied with care issues of other patients. The time designated with the patient discussion should be devoted to that particular patient. I know that it is unpreventable that at times we are guilty of being in a hurry when we are facing with time constraint. All we can do is to try our best to pay attention to one conversation. I think we all do a good job here at MRMC and I commend every nurse who partakes in the care of patients of all the extra time, energy, and effort spent. Kudos to everyone!!
ReplyDeleteVery well said Ninfa
DeleteActive listening allows us to truly advocate for the patient. Our goal is to hear their beliefs and wishes for EOL, not ours and to assure them they are listened to.
ReplyDeleteI agree. True active listening takes a concentrated effort. We must be completely committed to trying to understand from THEIR perspective. In order to actively listen we must stop talking and have a comfort with silence. It is only then we can truly be the advocate that can maximize the end of life experience. We must build a trust relationship so there is a comfort to communicate open and honestly with us.
DeleteThe nurses ability to represent the patient and communicate on thre patient's behalf is a core behavior at the EOL.Communication of patient's needs and feelings helps to plan the best possible care for the patient and loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI can identify with so many previously stated responses, such as Theresa's statement that no one at EOL wished they acquired more "stuff" or worked longer hours. I agree with Michelle's statements on observing family dynamics, providing timely answers to patient questions, and listen to patient stories. Much of being a nursing advocate at EOL is the listening and being present, rather than what we say. Allowing the patient and family to vent, to verbalize positive and negative feelings, and listening with interest strengthens the relationship and trust. We provide many services to patients, but active listening is one of the most important gifts we can give.
ReplyDeleteActive listening is one of the many ways that a nurse advocates for their patients. Each patient and their families that we care for may different culture or religious beliefs that need to be followed during EOL. Therefore, active listening is essential in providing comfort during a very difficult time.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree
DeleteListening to patients can be very therapeutic for both the patient and the nurse. Many times if we are truly listening to our patients they are telling us exactly what they want but may not be sure of how to express. It may help the patient realize their wants and needs just by talking out loud with someone else.
ReplyDeleteAlso pay attention to the patient and families' nonverbal cues.
DeleteActive listening is extremely important during end of life care. There are many forms of active listening such as verbal communication, facial expressions, vital signs and emotional cues. Many patients during EOL are unable to speak. It is at these times, it is extremely important for the nurse to watch nonverbal cues for interaction and listening; as well as explain these to family members. By doing so, the nurse will be able to achieve the goal of having the patient experience the most peace and QOL as death occurs.
ReplyDeleteI find that when speaking to my patients active listening allows for me to reflect back on the feeling and content of the message being conveyed by my patient. I find it shows genuine concern, interest and a need to understand where my patient is coming from. Listening actively helps to build trust and respect between patients and prevents misunderstandings and wrong perceptions. I agree with you Shelia, I find I really have to be mindful of my facial expressions and verbal queuing because my eyes talk when communicating and listening.
DeleteActively listening can help patient's feel heard. Paraphrasing information back to patient's after they explain their concerns allows patient's to know that you are truley listening to them and care. This form of communication is very important during end of life care as the patient is depending on other's for comfort.
ReplyDeleteWell said Brit :) Paraphrasing is in fact an effective way to show our patients they have been heard.
DeleteI believe that active listening can help a nurse truly know the patient's and families wishes. A nurse cannot advocate for a patient if she does not know a persnon's wishes for their care.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we should know what the patient's wishes are and listen to what they really want.
DeleteTami Z. RN
ReplyDeleteNurses are true active listeners. We not only hear what the patient is saying we empathize with them. We are then about to use techniques of active listening back with the patient to make sure what we really heard is correct with what the patient wants. With that knowledge, we are then able to bring that to the rest of the mutil team approach for that patients last wishes. We help bring the quality EOL by acting on the patients behalf.
Active listening is essential in truly understanding the needs, fears and wants of the patient and family. The needs and issues are different for each individual. Unless we actively listen to understand we may miss an important core issue. The needs cannot be met if we do not listen for understanding and then be responsive to what we are being told. Interestingly I believe active listening occurs with more than ones ears. We must listen for the unspoken. Sometimes what is not said communicates so much. True advocacy comes from active listening for true understanding.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a good point, Debbie. That what is NOT said communicates much. Perhaps that is a time to investigate further, as well.
DeleteI agree with Debbie that active listening occurs with more than our ears. Many times a patient will say one thing their body language says another. In situations such as this the nurse can inquire or mention to the patient that they have noticed their body language contradicts what they have said. This shows the patient that they are truly being listened to & help to build trust/respect.
DeleteI believe active listening is very important during the end of life care. Actively listening shows that you have genuine concern for the patient and willing to help the patient with concerns and fears that they are facing during this time. Also patients sometimes will not verbally tell you that something is wrong but their body language tells you something different. Actively listening to family members also helps the patient when their loved ones concerns are answered to.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Jennifer,
DeleteActive listening does demonstrate geniune concern for a patient. At times as nurses we are so busy that we fail to do active listening. I have seen this many times where nurses will make the assumption of the patients needs based on their presenting complaint. Often times this ends up poor care delivery because time was not taken to truely identify the patints real problem.
I agree that sometimes it is more the body language then the their spoken words that provide what is needed to best meet their needs. Their interaction during this process with their family, and the nurse can also paint another picture. From that interaction alone it may become even more clear what the patient wants versus what the family wants for the patient. I think the best information is obtained when both the family and patient are expressing their concerns, and needs during EOL.
DeleteI agree that body language plays a big role in communication with our patients. Sometimes the patient has trouble telling us what they really want versus what they think we want to hear or what the family wants to hear and it's important to look at all forms of communication.
DeleteI believe that active listening is very important it helps you provide very good care for your patients. It also gives you a better understanding of their personal needs and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteTerry Watt RN, OCN
ReplyDeleteDiscussion Question:
Explain how active listening can transcend into advocacy when delivering end –of-life care.
As the patient’s wishes are verbalized and actively heard by the nurse the nurse is better able to provide the kind of care that the patient most desires and in need of, this then can translate to the nurse advocating to the physician for the orders needed to implement the care.
I agree, as nurses we cannot meet our patient's needs if we do not fully understand them. It is important to really listen to our patients, ask them clarifying questions, and confirm we truly understand what their wishes are for the end of life.
DeleteActive listening is essential when giving EOL care. When a patient can open up to you about their thoughts and feelings, it develops trust between the patient and the nurse. It also helps to provide better care for the patient by attending to their needs and wishes as well as relaying that information to others that are involved in his/her care.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Sanah , listening is essential in end-of-life care . when trust is developed between nursing staff and the patient , as soon as they see you getting into their room , you will see the smile in their face , and will even call you by your first name.
DeleteExplain how active listening can transcend into advocacy when delivering end-of-life care.
ReplyDeleteActive listening readily transcends into advocacy when delivering end of life care in more than one way. One way is that by being an active listener the nurse allows the patient sufficient time to experience and work through the grieving process in their own way. Another way is that by active listening the nurse has the opportunity to identify social cultural values and beliefs. By identifying these values and beliefs the nurse will be able to advocate more effectively for the patient.
If we are not truly listening to the expressed needs of our patient's at EOL, we would never be able to fully meet their needs. Our patient's look to us for answers, and help, We cannot possibly be a good an advocate to them, if we do not know the specifics of what it is important to them.
ReplyDeleteI agree, nurses must listen and communicate effectively to be patient advocates and support their wishes for EOL care.
DeleteI agree Angela, we do need to "know" our patients and also be aware of the energy that connects us as spiritual beings. Active listening means as others have said, being present, being kind, compassionate, loving and respectful. Michelle, I do see death as a sacred moment in life and it is an honor to be present when a soul transitions.
ReplyDeleteWhen advocating for EOL patients it is important to focus on active listening. We need to hear the patient's true wants and needs during this period of time. Once we communicate with active listening we can provide the patient with these wanted comfort measures so they can feel at ease. Listening also serves as a comfort for these patient's at a very difficult time so they do not feel alone and offers them trust between patient and nurse.
ReplyDeleteI agree, by really listening to what our patients are saying, we can understand what their true needs are and what support they may need.
DeleteExplain the rationale behind the Multi-Disciplinary Team approach to end of life nursing care.
ReplyDeletePhysicians may be hurried and not always sensitive to the needs of patients and their families. They may also seem to be just technical rather then caring and personal.
Nurses are then expected to and willingly take on the role of communicator and translator of information. The physician and nurse seek out other disciplines and create a holistic atmosphere of care, openness and compassion.
Explain how active listening can transcend into advocacy when delivering end of life care.
As the Multi-Disciplinary team interacts with the patient and the patients family active listening should be taking place. With active listening the patient and families wishes can be understood and the team can advocate for those wishes to become reality.
Active listening involves reflecting back the feeling and content of a message to communicate that you are genuinely listening and understanding what someone is saying to you. Listening actively can build trust and respect between you as the nurse,and the patient. All this becomes increasingly important when dealing with end of life care!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Jessica. Developing a bond that is founded on trust between the nurse and patient during end of life care is so important. Establishing that relationship with the patient can allow them to relax a little and know that they are being cared for properly.
DeleteActive listening is a skill that we all need to constantly work on. It's easy to 'infer' what someone must mean, when in actuality that is your own preconceived notions being placed on a person's wishes. To actively listen, one must put aside all biases of our own culture and demographics. I don't believe this comes easy or naturally, but it is so valuable to develop and learn. When patients are really heard through active listening, their message can supersede all stereotypes. Trust and acceptance between RNs and patients can occur at that point.
ReplyDeleteThis is very insightful and helpful to remember that we should not infer what someone means but validate their feelings as very real and honest,
DeleteThanks for your bog
Two very important learned skills are active listening to the patient and family and then effective communication of their feelings with the rest of the healthcare team. Communication includes documentation in the MAR and verbal discussion during shift handoffs and with PEC teams.
ReplyDeletewhen we become an advocate for patients and families we have to be competent professionals.One strong component of advocacy is active listening.When we listen to what pateints and families have to say,they tend to open up and start trusting us.When their is trust,they in turn listen to what we have to say.We start creating a relationship that can help them deal with end of life care.
ReplyDeleteI agree with wanderlust , because trust for me is vey important , they will not say something unless they feel; that they trust you and that how you build relationship and you can apply your learned skills like your active listening and effective communication
DeleteActive listening means listening to the words but also listening to the feelings that are behind those words. Many times, in my practice, I have had to "translate" what a physician just told the patient as the physician is exiting the room. Nurses are the ones that are left to explain and also to educate on "what happens now." The what happens now can be hugs and allowing tears then helping the patient and family make decisions. Then next stage is to communicate this to the rest of the health care team. We are able to do this with the SHM and verbally via hand off communication. I believe that when we become involved with our patient and trust exists, then real advocacy begins.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. Trust and communication are vital to every relationship, even the relationship between a nurse and the patient and their family. There needs to be a good relationship in order for real advocacy to happen.
DeleteThere are so many situations that we, as nurses, are left with the patient and their family after the doctor gives the bad news and exited the room. It is up to us to explain in layman terms what the medical jargon meant. It is always a plus if we have a good bonding with the patient and we can give them the support they need.
DeleteActive listening is always important in nursing, but it becomes even more so in the end of life. Through active listening, the nurse can show that they genuinely care about their patient's needs and concerns. It is also the best way to ensure that the nurse truly understands what the patient's wishes are for their end of life care. If we as nurses do not understand our patient's needs, we cannot clearly express them to the other members of the healthcare team to ensure they are met.
ReplyDeleteTo me, active listening, is not only about hearing the words the other person is saying but being able to repeat what was said back to them to ensure that you have understood what they were trying to convey. It is also about body language and posture. You have to truly be paying attention to what the other person is saying. Once you feel you really understand the patient's needs and desires then you can begin the process of making those things happen by reaching out and communicating with others about what the patient wants.
ReplyDeleteActive listening and developing effective communication skills enhance the nurse-patient relationship and create a healing environment. The foundation of advocacy is the nurse-patient relationship. It has two parts-(a) information and (2) support.
ReplyDeleteWe give support by allowing the patients to verbalize their feelings and emotions, understand what is going on thru their minds, their concerns and meet their needs either physically, emotionally or spiritually .
Information part is when the nurses take on the role of communicator and translator of information. An example is: when the doctor breaks the bad news to a patient such as diagnosis of a terminal condition. Nurses as advocates can explain what the doctor said during the consultation in a different way or can help answer questions that the patient and family might have, explain hospice and what to expect as the near ends.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteActive listening is always important in any field of health care providing . We cannot just pretend the we can hear the person talking , but not understanding what they are trying to convey to us . Much more in the end-of-life care . people can feel it , if we are just faking the care we're giving them , or is it genuine . That is why The Mother standard of care should always be practiced.
ReplyDeleteFebruary 28, 2014 at 9:30 AM
Active listening is vital when caring for all patients. I've found that just by truly listening to the patient helps relieve their anxiety/fears. Patients often don't want to "burden" their family with their anxiety/fears related to EOL. Being an unbiased listener can not only help the patient but can help the team caring for the patient. The nurse can share what the patient has said with the medical team caring for the patient because many times the family members that they don't want to "burden" are with them when they meet with the medical team members & the patient may not be comfortable sharing their true anxiety/fears.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Rachel, nicely summarized. Open communication among all caregivers is a key component for quality care, especially at EOL stage. Patients should be able to express their true emotions without fear of being judged.
DeleteNurses effectively use active listening skills during patient assessments/communications and this transcends into advocacy when the nurse not only hears what the patient is saying but more importantly the message being sent. Nurses must pay full attention to verbal and non-verbal messages patients send and suspend one’s own judgments to fully understand patients words and meaning behind the words. When the nurse paraphrases the patient’s words back to the patient in a form of a question this leaves little room for assumption or interpretation on the nurses part. When the nurse fully understands the patients EOL care wishes they can effectively advocate patient wishes to the other members of the healthcare team.
ReplyDeleteI have seen how active listening directly effects end-of-life care. Unfortunately, I have been more involved with end-of-life care than I would wish as a very young nurse. I have become very attuned to the needs of patient's toward the end of their life and how I can best serve, care, and advocate for them. At times, I have had to advocate for my patient even to the family members who are not ready to let go.
ReplyDeleteBeing an active listener allows you to set aside your own thoughts and actions to care for your patient's specific needs. I have learned that patients do not always open up on their own and sometimes it takes us asking tough questions to initiate these conversations to help us better care and advocate for them when they may not be able to do so for themselves at the end.
Active listening is an essential tool that takes time and intentionality to properly care for our patients at the end of their lives.
Samantha you make a great point about having to become an advocate for the patient when they are unable to be open with what they need. Even though you have been exposed to this end of life care at any early age, you have been blessed with helping patient's in their journey beyond. When people ask if it is hard to be a nurse at a cancer center, I tell them no because our patients are here to get the best care and that is what we give them and we make a difference in their lives.
DeleteActive listening enhances trust between nurse and patient. Nurses can truly honor patient’s feelings by actually hearing what is being communicated. This allows nurses to truly advocate patient’s wishes and desires for end of life care. Each person deserves the right to depart our earthly world with dignity and respect.
ReplyDeleteActive listening and effective communication are two very important leraned skills in every aspect of nursing most especially in the event of life event since this is a very sensitive part of the patients life.When a patient opens up to you about their feelings that means they trust you, so its very important that we listen and understand them. Giving them sufficient time and always be present.Acive listening is more than lending them your ears , sometimes unspoken words says more.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree!
DeleteActive listening enables the nurse to be the advocate for his or her patient at a time when words or feelings are not enough. No one knows how they will feel when they are given the news their end is close at hand.To have someone (your nurse) help you navigate through unknown waters can be a great gift and comfort. We are blessed to be their and have the time to do this for our patients.
ReplyDeleteA nurse again plays and a large role in a patient’s end of life care. When the nurse has any interaction with the patient the nurse should be listening actively to their verbal and nonverbal cues. When a patient is talking to the nurse it is his/her job to interpret what the patient is saying or may be too afraid to say and cue in on that. Also, the nurse can use open ended questions so that the patient can describe better what they are trying to say. The nurse can take all of these clues back to the care team and get for the patient what the patient needs and wants.
ReplyDelete*Repost from 2/28/14* Active listening is essential to initiating advocacy. Patients needing advocacy can potentially be helpless, vulnerable, and experiencing difficultly verbalizing. End of life is a scary time and a nurse's role is to support the patient including anticipating their needs. It is important to gain trust as quickly as possible so that lines of communication can open and strengthen in order to provide the best care for a patient.
ReplyDelete-Danyel Scharff
DeleteI hop eto become certified in the next couple years. For me, I find that I don't have a lot to study for the OCN exam. Also, I need to purchase the study materials, which can be costly. It is beneficial that CTCA reimburses us if we pass the exam but we still have to pay the initial cost.
ReplyDeleteI still have to take the certification exam for the OCN--I am excited about it, but leery of the time commitment to study. I guess I should just plow into it! I moved into a new dept recently, Clincal Research, and I understand that there is a separate certification exam for this. In all honesty, I will probably do that first, as it's more immediately pertinent to what I do now. That willleave me even more time to absorb info for the OCN exam. I admire all my peers who have taken it and passed!
ReplyDeleteTheresa Minniear
Clinical Research
This is a late entry. Listening is a very important for both patient & nurse. A very good interaction developes when you listen. A rapport grows and as well as trust. People appreciate more if you show that you care when you take time to sit down hold their hand and actively listen. It builds trust with each other. And it is well known that trust is the foundation of advocacy. After realizing what our patients concern, fears, problems etc. You start being their advocate. You help them to decide when they become afraid, or unable to make their own decision. They became very appreciative even for small gestures like hugging them. Actions speaks louder than words.
ReplyDelete