Please help - questions from future nurse

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Hi everyone! I am a student taking prerequisites for the nursing program in my community college. Right now we are being asked to ask a RN a few questions pertaining to communication as an RN. I was wondering if any one of you have the time to answer some questions for me. It is much appreciated.

1. What is your perception of the role of an Registered Nurse?

2. Has that perception changed since you first entered Nursing?

3. In what area(s) of nursing have you worked?

4. Did you feel you needed different types of communication for each specialty area? If so, how did your communication differ?

5. With whom do you communicate most frequently?

6. How important do you believe communication is in a nurse/client relationship?

7. Are there any insights or tips you can give me that you have discovered that will enhance communication with clients or others?

-Hchau001

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Can someone please help me?

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

first off, a little patience. you posted this at nearly midnight, then expected detailed responses within one hour. most of us, if we are up, are at work and have just sat down to chart, others are most likely asleep. it may say there are umpteen hundred people on the forums, but that doesn't mean they are all rn's able to answer these questions. that being said, here are my responses.

1. what is your perception of the role of an registered nurse?

the role of a registered nurse is to offer compassion and technical expertise to a population of people in need, whether r/t illness, emotional stress or financial issues. we are to claim no boundaries to our care as dertermined by race, belief system, personal preferences or attitudes. we are expected to advocate, educate, learn, grow and foster well being among our patients and those we work with and come in contact with each day.

2. has that perception changed since you first entered nursing?

it has grown stronger and more ingrained with experience.

3. in what area(s) of nursing have you worked?

small community, rural hospital, med surge/tele and complex cardiac/tele.

4. did you feel you needed different types of communication for each specialty area? if so, how did your communication differ?

no i believe my communication continues to be conscise and courteous to all involved in the care of my patients.

5. with whom do you communicate most frequently?

my fellow nurses and techs.

6. how important do you believe communication is in a nurse/client relationship?

i believe communication is vital to building a relationship of respect, compassion, education and advocation between patient, staff and ancillary.

7. are there any insights or tips you can give me that you have discovered that will enhance communication with clients or others?

listen well, keep your heart and ears open and be willing to be flexible. take time to determine what style of communication best fits the scenario and patient and use it to make the best outcome.

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Thank you very much for responding. I really appreciate the time you took to do this for me.

p.s. I didn't mean to be impatient. I was just trying to bump the thread. :)

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

No problem :)

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

1. what is your perception of the role of an registered nurse? this question could be the thesis for an entire paper!! to me first and foremost, an rn is an advocate for the patient. we are that patient's voice when they cannot speak for themselves. what this advocacy is based on however is the connection and relationship we are able to establish with our patients. i believe in connection based nursing and in all that entails (also could be the thesis for an entire paper!).

2. has that perception changed since you first entered nursing?

yes, i developed for myself the importance of that connection and the difference it made to my practice and to my patient's care.

3. in what area(s) of nursing have you worked? icu, ed, telemetry, ortho, homecare, nursing home, tcu, vent house

4. did you feel you needed different types of communication for each specialty area? if so, how did your communication differ? no. but certainly my communication is different btw patients and their families vs other health care professionals.

5. with whom do you communicate most frequently? my patients, the physicians, other nurses and aids.

6. how important do you believe communication is in a nurse/client relationship? it is the most vital part of what i do. even if my patient is intubated and sedated, i believe there is a sort of 'communication' that happens. it is what i do to connect to that patient as i assess them, read their chart, review their labs and progress and plan. it is also a connection beyond all that, a kind of intuition i would say, that i depend on to also know if my patient is doing well or not.

7. are there any insights or tips you can give me that you have discovered that will enhance communication with clients or others? patients and their families want to be able to trust you more than anything, you don't need to know everything and don't try to fake it if you don't. in communicating with others give respect always and demand it in return.

hey, cool questions, hope this helps!!

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

1. what is your perception of the role of an registered nurse?


    1.first and foremost, a communicator. wherever you work in nursing, you have to be able to listen, to talk, and be honest
    2.an observer. you can't help ppl until you can assess properly
    3.a facilitator. you have to ensure that the patient gets as much assistance eg physio, occ therapy, speech, social work intervention as they need, particularly on discharge.
    4.a person not frightened to get their hands dirty. sometimes 'cleaning someone up' can be the difference between destroying and maintaining their dignity in a time of distress.
    5.efficient. be able to carry out designated cares identified as problems by yourself and colleagues, while keeping in touch with other health carers, and the condition and concerns of the patients themselves. you can't just plan a day. nursing is ever changing...
    6.an educator.
    7.an 'acceptor'. realise that your identified concerns are not their problems. its a mutual understanding between two ppl.
    8.a human. some of the things we see are painful and horrific for us to cope with. watching a family break their hearts over a loved one dying. seeing ppl in dreadful pain. dealing with codes. watching ppls social lives and jobs be permanently affected. the list goes on...to be a nurse, you need to look after yourself...
    my question is:
    what isn't a nurse

2. has that perception changed since you first entered nursing?

ohhh yeahhh. i just had this vague idea that i would be helping ppl get well

3. in what area(s) of nursing have you worked?

medical, surgical, infectious adults and paeds, ortho, day procedure

4. did you feel you needed different types of communication for each specialty area? if so, how did your communication differ?certainly it differs between children and adults. but i don't think that specialty per se defines how you communicate to your patients. you have to take into account culture, age, sex, how they are coping with the situation they are in, self concept, psychological status, the trust they have in the hospital ,the staff, and the treatment they are receiving. the only difference i would see is the professional knowledge you require to explain and discuss patients issues. for example, having tb is obviously totally different from a compound fractured leg in traction!

5. with whom do you communicate most frequently?

never thought of that one. my patients, then my colleagues, then doctors, then allied health professionals.

6. how important do you believe communication is in a nurse/client relationship?

answered that already

7. are there any insights or tips you can give me that you have discovered that will enhance communication with clients or others?

1. don't pretend you know everything. ask. and show your patients that you are not infallible. if a patient wants more information than you are able to give, then go and look for it.

2. learn to interpret when a person needs you to stay close, or leave them.

3. let them know you will be available, but also learn to set boundaries for those who are attention seeking (oops maybe i shouldn't have said that one)

4. realise that even if you may be saying one thing, your non verbal communication may be saying another. both learn how to communicate nonverbally, but also, be honest! if you are busy tell them so! they will see simply by the way you are trying to run out the door!

5. learn to communicate non verbally. for example, sitting close to someone, with an open posture, indicating you are ready to listen. use touch, but only when you feel it is appropriate, the patient feels comfortable with it, and you feel that you are communicating honestly.

did i say be honest!!! :innerconf

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Thank you very much for all the replies!!

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