Beneficial Communication In The Nurse-Patient Relationship

Communication in the healthcare setting is fundamental to successful clinical practise. Using skills in communication, nurses are able to build rapport and trust with patients, whilst showing empathy, and a concern for the patient. This trust and rapport with enables the nurse to gather relevant information, understand a patient, and conduct the right assessments and interventions. Beneficial communication in the nurse-patient relationship facilitates appropriate and holistic care, and improved patient outcomes, which are key in the development of a therapeutic relationship where the patient is treated with respect, dignity and autonomy (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia [NMBA], 2017). Throughout the essay, the case study of Mr O’Grady,

Patient documentation refers to electronic or written records which detail every interaction with the patient, whether that be care given, complaints voiced, or any other events (Mee, 2017). The purpose of this documentation for clinicians is to keep track of the patient and recognize trends in their health. This documentation can function as a legal document, meaning nurses must practise with high integrity (Mee, 2017). Moreover, documentation is becoming increasingly used with “management information systems”, which can more effectively manage data, and facilitate evidence based practice by providing access to health databases (Mee, 2017). The record has all the information about a patient, including basic things like their name and address, including pathology results and previous health issues. Documentation is so important is simply because it takes the pressure off the clinician, and allows much more in depth information to be permanently stored and accessed when needed. For example, in the case of Mr O’Grady, the nurse can transcribe the results of his health assessment onto his medical record. This record can then be accessed at a later date to make comparisons to in the future as a baseline. This assists in the formation of a therapeutic relationship as the nurse will be able to access a multiplicity of different information,

Patient-centred care refers to approaching the patient in a way to create mutually beneficial partnership which genuinely involves the patient in their care by understanding the individual and how they understand the situation (Levett-Jones, Gilligan, Outram & Horton, 2014). It utilises the patient’s unique nature to their benefit, allowing the patient to be open and comfortable with the nurse, placing the patient's wishes, and health first (Levett-Jones et al., 2014; Doherty & Thompson, 2014). Looking at the case of Mr O’Grady, it is clear a therapeutic relationship would benefit the patient. When the nurse learns that Mr O’Grady has a poor diet, the nurse can encourage the patient to consume more nutritious and balanced foods, being aware of food labels and recommended daily consumption amounts. The nurse can also identify a strength in Mr O’Grady, such as his active lifestyle, and encourage the behaviour and use it as motivation to change less beneficial activities. In doing this, a partnership with Mr O’Grady, would be formed, approaching him in a compassionate way so he feels like an individual with a say in his own health care, thus allowing for more truthful and open dialogue between the nurse and patient, which is in accordance of standards 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4 of the