Question | Answer |
Using Silence | Giving the patient the opportunity to collect and organize thoughts, to think through a point, or to consider introducing a topic of greater concern than one being discussed |
Accepting | Conveying an attitude of reception and regard. "Yes, I understand what you said." Making eye contact and nodding. |
Using Silence | Giving the patient the opportunity to collect and organize thoughts, to think through a point, or to consider introducing a topic of greater concern than one being discussed |
Accepting | Conveying an attitude of reception and regard. "Yes, I understand what you said." Making eye contact and nodding. |
Giving Recognition | Acknowledging and indicating awareness; "hello MR.P I noticed that you made a painting for the holiday in OT." |
Offering Self | Making oneself available on an unconditional basis, increasing the patient's feelings of self worth. "We can eat lunch together." |
Giving Broad Openings | Allowing the patient to take the initiative in introducing the topic; emphasizing the importance of the patient's role in the interaction. Technique to facilitate communication |
Offering General Leads | Offering the patient encouragement to continue. "Go on." |
Placing the event in time or sequence. | Clarifying the relationship of events in time so the nurse and patient can view them in perspective. "What happpened after that?" "Then what happened next?" |
Making Observations | Verbalizing what is observed or perceived. This encourages the patient to recognize specific behaviors and compare perceptions with the nurse. "YOu seem anxious." "You seem anxious." |
Encouraging description of perceptions. | Asking the patient to verbalize what is being perceived; often used with patient experiencing hallucinations. "|Are you hearing voices?" |
Encouraging Comparison | Asking the patient to compare similarities and differences in ideas, experiences, or interpersonal relationships. Helps patient to recognize patterns that recur in relationships, life situations etc. |
Encouraging Comparison | Asking the patient to compare similarities and differences in ideas, experiences, or interpersonal relationships. Helps patient to recognize patterns that recur in relationships, life situations etc. |
Restating | Repeating the main idea of what the patient stated; lets the patient know that you understand what he/she has said and gives him/her a chance to continue or clarify if needed. |
Reflecting | Questions and feelings are referred back to the patient so that they may be recognized and accepted, good technique to use when the patient asks the nurse for advice. PT: "What do you think I should do about my daughter?" NURSE: "What do you think?" |
Focusing | Taking notice of a single idea or even a single word; this technique is NOT therapeutic with a patient who is anxious. "This point seems worth looking at more closely." |
Exploring | Delving further into a subject, idea, expereince, or relationship; helpful with patients who are superficial in communicating. "Tell me more about that,,," |
Seeking Clarification and Validation | Striving to explain that which is vague or incomprehensible and searching for mutual understanding. "I'm not sure that I understand, Please explain." |
Presenting Reality | Defining reality when the patient misperceives the enviornment. "I understand that the voices seem real to you, but I don't hear the voices." |
Voicing Doubt | Expressing uncertainty as to the reality of the patient's perceptions; used with patients with delusional thinking. "I find that hard to believe." |
Verbalizing the Implied | Putting into words what the patient has only said indirectly; helpful with patients who have impaired verbal communication. |
Attempting to translate words into feelings | When feeling are expressed indirectly the nurse tries to "sesymbolize" what is said and translate it into words |
Formulating a plan of action | When a patient has a plan in mind to deal with what is considered to be a stressful situation, it may serve to prevent anger/anxiety from escalating to an unmanageable level. "What can you do to let out your anxiety before you meet with the dean?" |