The most important thing Nurses should tell patients

More often than not our patients are non-communicative (for one reason or another). When the family, friends, and visitors ask about the patient and their condition, what is the underlying tone and intent of your message?

Positive talk goes a long way. Hope is a good thing, but do you worry about a false sense of hope?

I've always felt that being honest about the patient and their treatment course will include being realistic about their outcome and recovery.

Sometimes that realistic picture can be tough. Tough to deliver and tough to hear.

Until next time...

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Sean Dent 👻👻👻 Snapchat: @seanpdent
Blogger 10 years | Vlogger | Podcaster | Social Media Maven | Acute Care NP | Mentor. Educator. Adviser. Storyteller.

[cuttingedgevintage]

Im going to take my Nclex in a week. I went through the last round of nursing school with my father in the ICU (several ICU's) and he passed as I went into my last classes. I had some nurses who totally passed the buck to the doctors. Some gave false hope and positive talk. The ones I trusted and respected the most were the ones that gave me the answers as you stated. Its hard being the voice of reason. Its hard to interact (daily) with a family that's so tied to someone that you know is highly unlikely to make it. In my case I think that the realistic answers that the nurses and doctors gave helped me and my family make the best decisions about the course we took with my father. You don't have to be heartless and say "no chance" you can give your two cents in a positive way but at the end of the day being honest, as hard as it may be, is best for the patient and also the family. Thanks to Sean and the other member of the tribe who posed this question. This video is very relevant and I think you hit it on the head.

[jerrydodson]

Thank you! Tough stuff right there. No place for personal takes or spin doctoring!

[keshashaw]

I always shy away from answering and direct them to the doctor...i guess im a punk when it comes to that. Its hard emotionally

[Esther_Says]

I shall take this to practice! Thanks!

[Jade-vnlr]

Hey I really appreciate this video!
I'm an aide not a nurse yet, so perhaps there's more training in my future to help with this. I think one of the hardest things to teach and to learn is what is the right thing to say in those sensitive and difficult situations. I always hope I'm saying the 'right' things. I know what NOT to say, and when to just stay quiet, but whats really hard for me is talking to people who are on hospice or actively dying about their death. Or someone who is depressed about their depression. I don't want to just throw empty platitudes at them that they've heard a thousand times, but I wish I had more to say that I'm here if you need to vent. I get listening is important, but I feel like sometimes they want me to say something that will bring them some measure of comfort, or have an actual conversation where someone can sit and talk about this, but I don't want to give advice when its not my place. Any advice on that?

[pixrexpen]

I still struggle with this. Thanks for making a video on this.

[MrDonkeyKIng]

Really good vid, honestly I don't think this subject is touched on enough in school, gotta give hope but not false hope, I try to always give a positive answer, but sometimes their just isn't one

[amyrosario]

Thank you for sharing! Taking notes. In medsurg, interacting with family or friends of patients is a constant. I like a pinch of facts mixed in but depends on the situation. it's great to have a start in a positive direction, but at the same time to be delicately realistic too...

[wedgepressure]

This is really helpful! In my clinicals I have been speaking to family's quite a bit and your thoughts help with my direction on how the conversations should be directed!

[alexandertataryn]

Good Stuff!!! I think this really should be taught more in nursing school.