Therapeutic Communication

[carpens]

I am a second semester student. We have been taught about educating our patients about their disease. The trouble I'm having is that I talk too much when I am in the room. Especially if the patient is talkative and asking lots of questions I feel comfortable answering. I got in trouble with my instructor because it was the end of our shift and I was stuck in the patients room for over 30 minutes answering questions. She asked what I was going to do when I had ten patients and chastised me for spending so much time with the patient. He is a repeat patient who has been admitted with

ultiple episodes of DKA so often that the nurses and doctors thinks he is doing it for attention. How do I handle situations like this without validating the concerns of the patient & making them feel like no one understands? Thanks!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

You can simply say "Mr. So and So, I am sorry to interrupt, but we are required to leave the floor at X PM. I understand you have a lot of questions and concerns. I will let your nurse know and see if he/she can come in to speak with you shortly. It has been a privilege taking care of you today."

If they are rambling, you have no choice but to interrupt. If they are asking a lot of questions, you may have to tell them "that's a good question. Let me look up the answer and I will check back in with you later" or "Your nurse is better qualified to answer that than I am. I will let her know you want to speak with her when she gets a chance." And the you leave.