Language exercise 1
To do
this exercise, try to imagine that you are carrying out a common nursing task
such as:
- Dressing a wound
- Giving an intra-muscular
injection
- Drawing a blood sample (venepuncture)
- Administering drugs through IV
therapy
- Setting up oxygen therapy
For each
task write down what you would say to the patient using the six speech
functions identified:
- giving information to the
patient
- explaining the procedure to the
patient
- seeking cooperation from the
patient
- giving encouragement to the
patient
- offering reassurance to the
patient
- giving feedback to the
patient.
Now practise saying your responses out
loud.
You
might like to write your own dialogue by trying to predict patients』 comments
or questions and then writing your responses to them. This sort of 『rehearsal』
of language tasks will help to prepare you for the real thing!
Language
exercise 2
Write
down how you could you respond to the following instructions by using a:
a. Confirmation statement?
b. Expansion statement?
c. Elaboration question?
Instruction
1: Could
you take Jane Thompson up for her x-rays and wait with her while she has them?
Instruction
2: Mrs.
Georgiou is still a bit weak so you』ll need to give her a bed wash today.
Instruction
3: Could
you apply Betadine to the abrasions on Mr. O』Neil』s
leg after you』ve done the dressing on his foot?
Now practise saying your responses out
loud.
If you would
like to send in some or all of your responses to this exercise - or some
complete dialogues - save your document and email it as an attachment to: virginia.hussin@unisa.edu.au . I will be happy to email you back with some detailed feedback and
suggestions.
15 Hot tips for your clinical placement !
Try and visit the venue before the placement begins
so that you feel more relaxed in the setting and have more idea about what to
expect once the placement begins
Make sure you know what sorts of tasks you are expected to
do in the placement and how you will be assessed.
Ask your clinical
facilitator for feedback on your progress, including your communication skills,
early in the placement so that there will
be time to work on improving them if there are any difficulties.
Ask for help as soon as you
think you may be having communication difficulties in the placement.
Don』t sit by yourself at
breaks! Talk with
the staff about your family, your study or your favourite
pastimes and ask them about theirs.
Tell staff members that you
want to learn more about 『Australian culture』. Ask them to explain colloquial language, slang
terms and jokes! Be prepared to inform them about aspects of your cultural
background.
Take a pocket Nurses』
Dictionary with you and always carry a note-pad
and pencil in your pocket for jotting down unfamiliar vocabulary which you can
check the meaning for later.
Ask for a handout of common
abbreviations that are used in the venue
and become familiar with them.
Borrow ward manuals overnight so that you have the time to
read and take notes from them.
Try and face the person who is speaking to you so that you
can observe non-verbal clues such as facial expressions and gestures. (If
maintaining eye contact is not considered respectful in your culture, explain
this to your superviser).
Tell staff members that you
sometimes need more time to understand what is being said to you and that you
will probably need to ask for repetition sometimes.
If a staff member asks: 『Do
you understand?』 don』t just say 『yes』 or nod your head. Instead show that you do understand by repeating key
words, paraphrasing, expanding on information or asking a follow-up question.
If you do not understand
something which is said to you, always ask for clarification.
Practise
relaxation techniques, deep breathing and
positive self-talk so that you can use them if you make mistakes with your
communication and start to get flustered.
If you do make a mistake
with your communication, discuss it with your clinical facilitator and try and
view it as a positive learning experience
so that you maintain your confidence in yourself.
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST WITH YOUR
CLINICAL PLACEMENT!