When people use those responses with me, it seems fake and rehearsed. While it may work for some people, it won't always work. When I get those responses, I usually call those people out. I would rather someone be real with me.
I just recently had a new supervisor use those rehearsed phrases with me. She was trying to be professional, and I get that. But it just made things cold and fake feeling. I told her to relax and just say it like it is. She did just that, and our communication is so much better now. Instead of trying so hard to sound good, she now gets her point across more efficiently. Instead of coming across cold, she shows a very nice personality. The same approach across the board doesn't work. Its better to cater to the family and their style of communication.
On the flip side off that, sometimes it works with the right family. I'm with one now where the parent was asking how much there was left to do on a project. Instead of answering like that, I said "look how much we have accomplished". She saw through it and said something about viewing it positively. But she seemed less stressed by seeing that so much had been accomplished and there isn't much more to do. But...she saw through it.
Personally, if I had a nurse with that approach, they wouldn't last long. I would prefer the warm and friendly type. If you aren't a fit for the family and you fake it, they will soon figure it out.
