INTRODUCTION
Many times patients and their families seek to take counsel or advice from nurses with regard to on-going treatment or future treatment options. This counsel and discussion gains importance when the patient has a life limiting condition. Physical problems faced by the patient can cause distress and can lead to further complications. So communication plays an important role in this scenario. With the advent of modern technology and lifesaving medications death and pain can be avoided or postponed through endless strategies. This requires right decision at right time. Right decisions are based upon the patient’s perception of goals and a value which guides the decision statement is based upon right conversation. Even though nurses are well trained in deciding the goals for their patients, but this must be accompanied by comfortable conversations with patients and families. Absence of good communication or faulty communication leads to loss of opportunity for the patient. A nurse who is well versed with these skills listens carefully to the issues faced by the patient and his/her families, their future and present worries, distress, stress, fears dreams and design a care plan or treatment regimen within that framework. They carry forward the counselling procedure and facilitate informed choices. This leads to building of a special relationship with the patients through therapeutic and holistic approach. Through proper training these communication skills can be enhanced.
This essay will focus upon a case where the patient have distress due to physical problem and how communication can play an important role in minimizing the pain will be discussed. A reflective account of this communication will be provided in order to assess the communication strategy followed and its effect.
CASE PRESENTATION
CASE REPRESENTATION
Patient Name- Joe Thomas
Native of – Indigenous Australia
Current Social status- Married and Divorced. Staying Single, Wife and...