RNs care for patients who are dealing with a wide range of medical conditions, many of which are chronic ― and terminal, in some cases. Nurses are obligated to discuss these issues with patients in a manner that is honest, straightforward, and easy for non-medically trained individuals to understand. Megan M. Krischke, a contributor for NurseZone.com, notes that one of the most common mistakes in nursing is “failing to assess a patient’s health care literacy and then speaking to them in terms they understand.” Nurses, she says, should not only evaluate each patient’s ability to understand medical terminology and treatment procedures, but also “intervene” by assisting them as they navigate the confusing network of doctors, specialists, and care providers.
One area of medicine where this skill is crucial is palliative care, which is reserved for patients with terminal conditions who are nearing the end of their lives. In a journal entry for Oxford Medicine Online, Lesley Fallowfield writes that honest, open communication is key “if patients are to be permitted the dignity of deciding how to spend their remaining time.” This level of honesty can be difficult for nurses to present ― and difficult for patients and their families to digest ― but studies have shown that most people would much rather hear the truth in situations like these. By using the clear/direct, assertive approach, maintaining an empathetic tone, practicing confident body language, and minimizing the level of visible emotion, nurses, can provide terminal patients and their loved ones with the information they need without exacerbating an already traumatic experience.