Full Description
A handy guide to tackling difficult patient and professional interactions with confidence and compassion
In this age of increasing reliance on technology, it is essential that the fundamentals of compassion and good communicationóthe art of patient careóremain at the heart of health care. This clear, concise guide to professional communication strategies helps nurses and other health care clinicians to build effective patient relationships and navigate a wide variety of difficult patient and professional interactions. Written by a practicing psychotherapist who has devoted nearly 30 years of study to clinicianópatient relationships, the book tackles such complex issues as dealing with demanding patients, maintaining professional boundaries, overcoming biases and stereotypes, managing clinician emotions, communicating bad news, challenging a colleague's clinical opinion, and other common scenarios.
The book guides the reader through a conceptual framework for building effective relationships that is based on the principles of mindfulness. These principles are embedded in discussions of the fundamental elements of interpersonal effectiveness, such as hope, empathy, and listening. Chapters apply mindfulness principles to specific challenging situations with concrete examples that describe effective clinical behaviors as well as situations depicting pitfalls that may impede compassionate care. From a focus on everyday manners in difficult situations to beneficial approaches with challenging populations, the guide helps health care professionals confidently resolve common problems. Brief, to-the-point chapters help clinicians channel their clinical knowledge and good intentions into caring behaviors that allow the patient to more fully experience empathy and compassion. With the guiding theme of "using words as precision instruments," this is a resource that will be referred to again and again.
Key Features:
Helps health care professionals and nurses communicate effectively in challenging clinical and professional situations
Uses the principles of mindfulness to build satisfying relationships and resolve problems
Addresses such difficult issues as demanding patients, maintaining boundaries, overcoming biases, managing clinician emotions, and much more
Provides special tips for communicating with family members and caregivers
Authored by a practicing psychotherapist specializing in clinicianópatient relationships for nearly 30 years
Contents
Contents
Preface
SECTION I: GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS: THE FOUNDATIONS
Encounters
Mindfulness
Empathy
Listening
Words
SECTION II: NAVIGATING PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES
Patients' Emotions
Time
Boundaries
Biases
Clinician Emotions
SECTION III: EVERYDAY MANNERS IN DIFFICULT CLINICAL SITUATIONS
11. Mistakes and Apologies
Hope and Bad News
Grief
Expressing Condolences
Disgust
SECTION IV: EFFECTIVE APPROACHES IN CHALLENGING POPULATIONS
Difficult Encounters
Somatic Complaints
Clinician Conflict
Substance Abuse
SECTION V: AFTERWORD
Cultivating Mindfulness
Index
