Question | Answer |
The six basic elements of the communication process | A source (the sender), encoding, the message, the channel, a receiver (decoder) and feedback. |
The source of verbal communication | spoken or written words. |
A message | the information to be communicated. |
Encoding | the act of placing a message into words or images so that it is understood similarly by the sender and the receiver. |
Who chooses the path (channel) for transmitting the message to the receiver? | The sender |
Examples of channels include | air, light, electricity, radio waves, paper and postal systems. |
The receiver | the person or group for whom the sender's message is intended. |
Noise | anything that obscures, confuses, or interferes with the communication. |
Decoding | interpreting the message. |
Feedback | the response from the receiver (verbal or nonberbal) that allows the sender to know how the message is being received. |
Regression | a return to an earlier or former developmental state. |
Common patient responses to illness or injury | Fear, embarrassment, frustration, pain, regression, feeling of being powerless or helpless, anxiety, anger, sorrow, depression, guilt, shame, or blame |
An EMS professional must except every call for assistance without | prejudice |
When communicating with a patient, being by identifying yourself and establishing your role by saying | My name is ______. I am an emergency medical responder and am trained to provide emergency care. I am here to help you Mr. or Mrs. __________. |
Be considerate of your patient's | personal space |
Personal space | the invisible area immediately around each of us that we declare as our own. |
Public space | 12 feet or more. Impersonal contact with others occurs in this space. |
Social space | 4-12 feet. Hearing and vision are the primary senses involved; much of a patient interview occurs at this distance. |
Personal space | 1.5 - 4 feet. This is the distance used when interacting with friends; hearing and vision are important at this distance; much of a physical assessment occurs in this space. |
Intimate space | Touching to 1.5 feet. Senses of smell and touch are the primary senses involved; this distance is best for assessing breath and other body odors. |
Recognize the patient's need for privacy, preserve the patient's dignity, and | treat the patient with respect. |