Teaching Communication Skills

When it comes to communication, especially with patients, my bottom line is to tell the person what I am going to do and to tell them what I need them to do. For example, when I have a postpartum patient up to the bathroom for the first time, part of my instructions are, "now that you are finished, I will clean off the toilet while you wash your hands". Or for students, "while I read the scenario, you will follow along on the IV pump".

Of course, there is much more to communication, but the focus is on the desired outcome.

One of our faves focuses on common communication barriers using role play methods. You can mock up various barriers for role play; vaseline covered glasses lens to simulate cataracts; earmuffs to simulate hearing loss; one of the players only speaks a foreign language; suffering from extreme anxiety & unable to focus, etc. We challenge the participants to carry out a specific nursing task (pain assessment, medication teaching, etc) and the 'patient' is the one with the barriers.

It is always lively - and really fun for the 'actors' as well as the observers.