Reflective Journal

Write 100-word Reflective Journal on how this clinical scenario enhanced your understanding

of important communication techniques and what would be incorporated into your individual

communication style to improve the nurse-patient/family relationship.

Required criteria

1. 100 word minimum reflection

2. Identifies how this scenario enhanced

understanding of communication techniques

3. Addresses how these communication

techniques will be incorporated into their own

communication style to improve the nursepatient/family relationship

4. Logical reflective flow which follows standard

grammatical rules with minimal (1-2)

misspellings

Case Video Transcript:

LINDA: Curtis, tell me about your breathing.

Curtis: It’s really hard to breathe. LINDA: That must be scary for you. When I was listening to his lung sounds, I heard wheezing, which means that the tubes in his lungs are tight. So, I’m going to start a nebulizer treatment.

LINDA: It’s been about 10 minutes since I gave you the nebulizer treatment. I’m sure you’re breathing better now.

Curtis: It is better.

LINDA: I’m just going to take a listen to your lung sounds again. Ms. Taylor, the provider will be in soon, so you should stop texting when he’s in here.

VANESSA: I’ll try, but my work is really demanding. I need to get there, I might lose my job if I don’t.

LINDA: Surely, they won’t fire you for having a sick child. I mean, I would tell them that I’m in the emergency department with my child.

VANESSA: I did, but they’re counting on my being there. It adds so

much stress. I need to be there, but I also need to take care of my child. The thing is, I don’t have any vacation time or sick time with this job. So, when I miss work, I don’t get paid. I just, I don’t understand how Curtis got so sick, so quickly.

LINDA: Well, are you administering Curtis’ medications as prescribed?

VANESSA: Yes. Well, I have been short on money, so we are out of medication.

LINDA: How do you make that choice, to not to buy medication for Curtis?

VANESSA: Well, I had other bills to pay and food to purchase. I just didn’t have any left to buy the medication. He did okay for a couple of weeks. I thought maybe he wouldn’t need to take medicine anymore.

LINDA: Sounds like you have a lot going on right now. There are programs that can assist you with financial issues and medications. There’s a lot of paperwork and it’s a little time-consuming, but if you have time and are interested in the program, I can call a social worker to assist you.

VANESSA: Yes, that would be great. I really appreciate it.

LINDA: I will make that call. Is there anything else I can do for you right now?

VANESSA: No, thank you. LINDA: Okay. I will listen to Curtis’ lung sounds, and the provider should be in with you shortly.

Results:

· “I’m sure you are breathing better now.”

NonTherapeutic

Rationale: False Reassurance is a nontherapeutic communication technique because it discourages open communication, blocks the client’s ability to expressing feelings and is not based on facts.

· “I will listen to Curtis’ lung sounds and the provider will be in shortly.”

Therapeutic

Rationale: Building trust with a client supports the establishment of a therapeutic relationship based on acceptance, empathy, honesty, and reliability.

· “I would tell them I’m in the emergency department with my child.”

Non-Therapeutic

Rationale: Giving advice is a nontherapeutic communication technique because it takes away the client’s decision making ability and creates doubt in relation to decisions made.

· “I will make that call.” Is there anything else I can do for you right now?”

Therapeutic

Rationale: Open-ended questions are a therapeutic communication technique because they allow the client to direct the conversation and verbalize related thoughts and concerns.

· “When I listened to your lung sounds, I heard wheezing, which means the tubes in your lungs are tight.”

Therapeutic

Rationale: Credibility supports interprofessional and client communication by conveying confidence, providing accurate information, and acknowledging limitations during nurse provider and nurse client interactions.

· “How did you make that choice, to not buy medication for Curtis?”

Non-Therapeutic

Rationale: A judgmental response is a nontherapeutic communication technique because it imposes the nurse’s personal attitudes, beliefs, values, and moral standards on the client.

· “Curtis, tell me about your breathing”

Therapeutic

Rationale: Providing leads is a therapeutic communication technique because the questions will help the client more clearly define any concerns.

· “Sounds like you have a lot going on right now.”

Therapeutic

Rationale: Reflection is a therapeutic communication technique because it directs questions and feelings back to the client in relation to what the nurse understood and heard while encouraging the client to explore feelings and ideas about a situation.

· “Ms. Taylor, the provider will be in soon, you should stop texting while he is in here.”

Non-Therapeutic

Rationale: Giving advice is a nontherapeutic communication technique because it takes away the cleint’s decision making ability and creates doubt in relation to decisions made.

· Linda maintain eye contact

Therapeutic

Rationale: Establishing and maintaining eye contact is a therapeutic nonverbal communication technique because it indicates the nurse is interested in what is being said by the client.

· “Are you administering Curtis’ medications as prescribed?”

Non-Therapeutic

Rationale: Asking a closed ended question is a nontherapeutic communication technique bc it does not allow the client to express what they are thinking or how they are feeling

· “It’s been about 10minutes since I gave you the nebulizer treatment.”

Therapeutic

Rationale: Building trust w/ a client supports the establishment of a therapeutic relationship based on acceptance, empathy, honesty, and reliability.