communication with hospice patient.

[pooh902]

Hello.

I was studying about hospice patient care and this book has some question about ACTIVE LISTENING PRACTICE. But i don`t know what to say. please help me.

1) Why is GOD punishing me?

2) Do you know what is really wrong with me?

3) please stay longer.

4) I`m tired and have no interest in anything

if hospice patient ask those thing what should i answer?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to nursing student assistance

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Active Listening is focused on getting to the underlying issue (why) rather than the surface content (what) of the conversation. So, if someone says "God is punishing me...", your reply should draw out the 'why' using open-ended questions that elicit responses. Something like "what could God be punishing you for?"

Sometimes - just like the old saying - a cigar is just a cigar. If the patient is just making comment on his current physical condition "I'm tired", it's probably acceptable to just accept and provide any help needed to achieve some rest. Of course, you also would assess for signs of lack of energy or drowsiness at the same time. An appropriate response to a drowsy patient could be "Is there something I can do to help you get comfortable enough to rest?"

Active listening = assessing the 'totality' of the patient's statement, formulation a response with information obtained from your physical, mental & emotional assessment skills. It's the essence of nursing.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Part of active listening is about asking open ended questions which show that you have heard what they said and you want to know more.

For example:

Patient: Why is GOD punishing me?

Nurse: What feelings are you having right now which make you feel that GOD is punishing you?

Or you can offer the services of a chaplain.

Patient: Please stay longer

Nurse: I know you want me to stay longer and sit with you but I have to check on another patient. I will be back soon, I promise.

Patient: I'm tired and I have no interest in anything

Nurse: I see that you are tired..Is there anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable so you can get some rest?

I don't understand what the patient especially a patient on hospice is trying to ask in the second question...

[AliNajaCat]

Patient: Why is GOD punishing me?

Nurse: What feelings are you having right now which make you feel that GOD is punishing you?

Or you can offer the services of a chaplain.

Just a quick bit of advice: In NCLEX, never never never take the answer that turfs your patient off to another discipline, like dietary or chaplain or social work. You might end up doing that eventually, but NCLEX wants to know what you as a NURSE will do first. The most common best answer has something like "get more information" in it, as the answer above. "What makes you feel that God is punishing you?" If the conversation rolls around to actual theology, it's then appropriate to say, "You're asking me questions that I can't answer. Would you like me to call your pastor/rabbi/imam/minister/a chaplain? Would that help you?"