Nursing communication skills for NESB nurses (III)

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!

[ 本帖最後由 willshine 於 2007-1-14 12:13 編輯 ]