Asking open ended questions and seeking clarification

Asking open-ended questions allows the patient to freely express themselves without feeling restricted by yes or no responses, facilitating a deeper exploration of their thoughts and feelings. Seeking clarification helps ensure mutual understanding and allows the nurse to clarify any ambiguous or unclear information, promoting effective communication despite the patient's difficulty in expression.

The patient

The patient determines the content and direction of the clinical interview because their unique experiences, concerns, and goals shape the focus and flow of the conversation, ensuring it aligns with their needs and priorities.

Clarity and continuity

Clarity ensures that the nurse effectively conveys information and understands the patient's concerns, fostering mutual understanding and trust. Continuity ensures that the communication process is consistent and ongoing, promoting a supportive and therapeutic environment for the patient's care and well-being across multiple interactions.

Clarification

The use of clarifying techniques helps both participants identify major differences in their frame of reference, giving them the opportunity to correct misperceptions before they cause any serious misunderstandings.

Reflecting and exploring

Reflection is a means of assisting people to better understand their own thoughts and feelings. A technique that enables the nurse to examine important ideas, experiences, or relationships more fully is exploring.

“It looks as though you are saying one thing but feeling another. Can you tell me what may be upsetting you?”

Conflicting messages are known as double messages or mixed messages. One way a nurse can respond to verbal and non-verbal incongruity is to reflect and validate the patient’s feelings.

• “You mentioned that you have never had friends. Tell me more about that.”

• “It sounds like you have been having a very hard time at home lately.”