VITAL SKILL FOR NURSES AND EDUCATORS

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EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION:
ENABLERS AND BARRIERS
Presented by
Victor Ndaahndem

2. OUTLINE
 Introduction
 Goals of therapeutic communication
 Principles
 Techniques
 Barriers
 Enablers
 Conclusion
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3. INTRODUCTION-1
• Communication refers to exchange of information,
ideas, beliefs & attitudes between persons or
among group of persons
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4. TYPES COMMUNICATION
1. Verbal communication
• by words, mouth or a piece of writing
2. Non-verbal communication
• Body language and signs
• Effective communication should involves both
verbal and non-verbal
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5. INTRODUCTION-2
• Therapeutic communication is a communication
that is directed towards patient health.
• Involves three general objectives: collecting
information, assessing and modifying behavior, and
providing health education.
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6. GOALS OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
• To Establish a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.
• To Identify the most important patient's needs.
• To Assess the patient's perception of the problem.
• To Facilitate the patient's expression of emotions
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7. • Patient should be the primary focus of interaction.
• Maintain professional attitude
• Use self-disclosure cautiously & only when it has a
therapeutic purpose.
• Maintain patient confidentiality.
• Maintain a non-judgmental attitude.
• Guide the patient to interpret his or her
experiences rationally
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PRINCIPLES OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION:

8. 1. Listening
2. Broad opening
3. Restating
4. Clarification
5. Reflection
6. Humor
7. Information
8. Focusing
9. Sharing perceptions
10. Theme
identification
11. Silence
12. Suggesting
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THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATIONTECHNIQUES

9. 1. listening:
• It is an active process of receiving information
• Response on the part of the nurse such as
maintaining eye-to-eye contact, nodding,
gesturing
2. Broad openings:
• Encouraging the patient to select topics for
discussion.eg; “What are you thinking about?”
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10. 3. Restating:
• Repeating the main thought expressed by the
patient. Eg; “You say that your mother left you
when you were five years old.”
4. Clarification:
• asking the patient to explain what he means. Eg; “I
am not sure that what you mean. could you tell me
about that again?”
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11. 5. Reflection:
• Directing back the patient ideas, feelings, questions
& content.
• Eg; “You are feelings tense & anxious & it is related
to a conversation you had with your husband last
night.
6. Humor:
• The discharge of energy through comic enjoyment
of the imperfect.
• Eg; “That gives a whole new meaning to the word
„nervous‟, said with shared kidding between the
nurse &the patient.
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12. 7. Information:
• The skill of information giving. Eg; “I think you need
to know more about your medications.”
8. Focusing:
• Questions or statements that help the patient
expand on a topic of importance. Eg; “I think that we
should talk more about your relationship with your
father.”
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13. 9. Sharing perceptions:
• Asking the patient to verify the nurse‟s understanding
of what the patient is thinking or feeling. Eg; “You are
smiling, but I sense that you are really very angry
with me.
10.Theme identification:
• This involving identification of underlying issues or
problems experienced by the patient.
• Eg; “I noticed that you said you have been hurt or
rejected by man. Do you think this is an underlying
issue?”
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14. 11.Silence:
• Lack of verbal communication for a therapeutic
reason.
• Eg; sitting with a patient & nonverbally
communicating interest & involvement.
12.Suggesting:
• Presentation of alternative ideas for the patient's
consideration relative to problem solving.
• Eg; “Have you thought about responding to your
boss in a different way when he raises that issue
with you? You could ask him if a specific problem
has occurred.”
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15. BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
• Language barrier
• Cultural differences
• Conflict
• Setting in which care is provided
• Internal noise, mental/emotional distress
• Difficulty with speech and hearing
• Medication
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16. ENABLERS TO EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
• Simplicity: Say what you want to say concisely and without
using unfamiliar terms.
• Clarity: support your verbal message with non-verbal
indicators.
• Relevance: message must suits the situation, time and
person you are speaking to.
• Adaptability: Adapt your response to the clues that the
patient gives you.
• Respect: show respect for the individuality and dignity of
the person you are speaking to (booyen, 2013)
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17. CONCLUSION
• Therapeutic communication is one part of nursing
assessment and care.
• Developing these skills will ensure that you practice
the best of your ability for the benefit of patients,
colleagues and institution.
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18. REFERENCES
Bush H. Communication Skills for Nurses. [Internet]. 2016.
Availablefrom: https://www.ausmed.com/articles/communication-
skills-for-nurses/ [Accessed: December 28, 2017]
O’Hagan S, Manias E, Elder C, Pill J, Woodward-Kron R,
McNamara T, Webb G, McColl G. What counts as effective
communication in nursing? Evidence from nurse educators’ and
clinicians’ feedback on nurse interactions with simulated patients.
Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2013:1344-1355
 www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.com 2023
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19. THANKS
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