Imagine this: it’s your very first day of clinicals. You’ve learned to create care plans, discussed clients in lectures, done simulations at school, set your alarm clock to an unreasonably early time, and now you’re officially ready to put your newfound nursing knowledge into practice!
Sounds great, right? Well, there’s just one small problem. Your client no longer has plastic skin, and they can blink! It’s one thing to carry on a conversation with someone that isn’t real. It’s a whole other ball game when not only can the client talk to you, they have lots of friends and family that want to talk to you too!
This means that a big part of being a good nurse comes down to that thing that makes the world go around: communication. But what does good communication mean? And how can a nurse evaluate the effectiveness of communication with a client? Well, we have some tips on how to interact with clients as a nursing student that’ll ensure you and your client have a great experience.
As we’ll see, much of it comes down to preparation. Let’s dive in!
1. Create an introduction, and stick with it!
One of the best ways you can prepare to interact with your client is to create a personalized introduction and practice it beforehand. For example, Hello, Mr. Smith? My name is Courtney, and I’ll be the nursing student assisting with your care today” is a great way to start!
This introduction not only establishes a relationship with the client for the day, it allows the client to understand this is a learning experience for you. The same can be said when you become a real-deal RN! Clients want to know who’s taking care of them, and we always should start an interaction with an introduction.
2. It’s all in the details.
After establishing who you are with a stellar introduction, the client also wants to know the what, where, why, and how of their care. Clients should be encouraged to ask questions and play an active role in their health care. Because of this, it’s essential to explain, explain, and then, explain some more!
You may say something like, “Mr. Smith, I’m going to collect some vital signs. Vital signs give us a great snapshot of how your heart, lungs, and the rest of your body is responding to the treatment. Do you have any questions before I proceed?” This not only establishes what you’re doing, but the “why” behind it! You could even take it a step further by explaining how you’ll collect each vital sign.
When wondering how can the nurse evaluate the effectiveness of communication with a client, it’s always important to remember that you have medical knowledge your client doesn’t! For example, when I was in nursing school, I assumed one of my clients knew the reason for administering insulin. Come to find out, they didn’t! All they knew was that a nurse came into the room at each meal and gave them a shot in the belly.
3. Be open, but not too open.
Effective communication requires going beyond all the “medical talk.” Yes, it’s important to discuss all the details of the medical care you’re providing, but clients are often looking for more (especially since you’ll be spending 12 hours with them).
As a nursing student or nurse, you’re placed in a unique position to care not only for a client’s physical needs, but also their emotional and spiritual needs. Clients may be vulnerable with you, and they expect something in return! Discovering common interests or sharing small pieces of your life can be a great way to establish rapport and trust with your client. We all like to know that we’re not alone!
With that being said, you have to be careful not to share too much or too often! Always keep in mind that you’re there to perform your nursing duties. If at any point you find yourself in a situation where your client relationship is interfering with your job, it’s time to take a step back.
4. Turn on your listening ears (and eyes).
Just like they taught you in kindergarten, you must turn on your listening ears (and eyes). As much as we’d like for our clients to express their needs, concerns, and feelings with words, their nonverbal cues can provide us with a much better overall picture.
Pay close attention to your client’s body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice with each interaction. If you’re wondering how can the nurse evaluate the effectiveness of communication with a client, it’s important to remember that often it’s not what a client is saying that matters, but how they’re saying it.
And don’t forget about silence. Sometimes silence really does speak louder than words. Never assume that silence means that the client is happy or content. It could be the first clue that something isn’t right!
5. R. E. S. P. E. C. T.
The song is super catchy! (Is it stuck in your head now too?) And as it turns out, the stuff Aretha is belting out is vital when it comes to client interactions. It’s important to recognize that each client is a unique individual, with beliefs, experiences, culture, knowledge, and a personality that affect their preferences.
As nurses, it’s our job to not only respect their preferences, but ensure nursing care is adapted to accommodate them. Even in nursing school, you can be your client’s biggest advocate!
Besides accommodating our clients, how else can we communicate respect to them? Use inclusive language! Inclusive language is just like it sounds—it’s the use of language that makes individuals feel included.
For more information about inclusive language in healthcare, check out this Inclusive Language for Medical & Health Education: An Evolving Guide from Rosh Review!
And if you’re not sure how to approach your client in a respectful manner, ask! A client will have more respect for you if you ask about their preferences instead of assuming. “Assumptions” should never have a place in the nursing world!
6. Approach uncomfortable situations with grace.
Remember how I mentioned earlier about clients being vulnerable? Well…. this does not always translate into them being nice! While not the fun part of the job, you will find yourself in awkward or uncomfortable conversations with your clients (and even family members).
So, how do you handle it? Here’s our step-by-step breakdown:
Acknowledge it’ll happen.
First, it starts with acknowledging that uncomfortable situations will arise. This helps to relieve some of the pressure when it actually does.
Make a game plan.
Second, create a game plan. Just like if you were coaching a sports team, you don’t want to walk into a situation unprepared.
Write out a few sentences you can say if you feel a conversation with your client is going downhill fast. While you might not be able to predict every situation, having a game plan in mind can help ease some anxiety, just like in a real-life sports game!
You’re allowed to step away.
Third, it’s ok to step away! If you find yourself in a conversation with no clear goal or resolution, it might be time to take a break. Going round and round in a conversation with no end in sight is not productive for you or the client. You can acknowledge your client’s feelings while also stepping away at the same time.
Find support from your team.
Lastly, remember that nursing is not a solo job! Lean on your preceptor or charge nurse if you ever find yourself in a situation or conversation that makes you uncomfortable. Chances are, they have been in a similar situation too!
Reminder: Good communication doesn’t just apply to clients! In order to have a great shift, effective communication with all the healthcare team members is a must! Need help with this? Check out our YouTube video on SBAR communication!
The bottom line: practice makes perfect!
Communicating effectively with clients can be tricky, but these tips will help. Keep in mind, becoming an effective communicator takes time—don’t be hard on yourself if it doesn’t always come naturally!
If you can start with a strong introduction, the rest will follow. Want some good news? If you start practicing now, by the time you become a real-deal RN, you’ll be a master communicator! Best of luck from our team here at Blueprint. 💙
Looking for more (free!) nursing tips to help with professional practice? Check out these other posts on the Blueprint Nursing blog:
