Communication

Front 1

Accepting

Back 1

Indicates the person has been understood. Does not indicate agreement but is nonjudgmental.

Front 2

General leads

Back 2

Allows the other person to take direction in the discussion and indicates that the nurse is interested in what comes next.

Front 3

Broad openings

Back 3

Clarifies that the lead is to be taken by the patient and discourages pleasantries and small talk

Front 4

Placing the events in time or sequence

Back 4

Puts events and actions in better perspective. Notes cause and effect relationships and identifies patterns of interpersonal difficulties

Front 5

Making observations

Back 5

Calls attention to the person's behavior and encourages them to notice the behavior and describe thoughts and feelings for mutual understanding

Front 6

Encouraging description of perception

Back 6

Increases the nurse's understanding of the patient's perceptions

Front 7

Encouraging comparison

Back 7

Reveals recurring themes in experiences or interpersonal relationships and helps the person clarify similarities and differences

Front 8

Restating

Back 8

Repeats the main idea expressed to give the patient an idea of what has been communicated

Front 9

Reflecting

Back 9

Directs questions, feelings, and ideas back to the patient

Front 10

Focusing

Back 10

Concentrates attention on a single point

Front 11

Exploring

Back 11

Examines certain ideas, experiences, or relationships more fully.

Front 12

Giving information

Back 12

Makes available facts the person needs

Front 13

Seeking clarification

Back 13

Helps patients clarify their own thoughts and maximize mutual understanding between nurse and patient

Front 14

Presenting reality

Back 14

Indicates what is real without arguing or trying to convince the patient.

Front 15

Voicing doubt

Back 15

Undermines the patient's beliefs by not reinforcing the exaggerated or false perceptions

Front 16

Seeking consensual validation

Back 16

Clarifies that both the nurse and patient share mutual understanding of communications.

Helps the patient become clearer about what he or she is thinking

Front 17

Verbalizing the implied

Back 17

Puts into concrete terms what the patient implies, making the patient's communication more explicit

Front 18

Encouraging evaluation

Back 18

Aides the patient in considering people and events from the perspective of the patient's own set of value

Front 19

Attempting to translate into feelings

Back 19

Responds to the feelings expressed, not just the content

Front 20

Suggesting collaboration

Back 20

Emphasizes working with the patient

Front 21

Summarizing

Back 21

Combines the important points of the discussion to enhance understanding and ensure that nurse and patient leave the interview with the same ideas in mind

Front 22

Encouraging formulation of a plan of action

Back 22

Allows the patient to identify alternative actions for interpersonal situations the patient finds disturbing

Front 23

"Get out of this situation immediately"

Back 23

Giving advice

Front 24

"Everyone gets down in the dumps"

Back 24

Minimizing feelings

Front 25

"You'll do just fine; you'll see"

Back 25

Falsely reassuring

Front 26

"How come you still smoke when your wife has lung cancer?"

Back 26

Making value judgements

Front 27

"Why did you stop taking your medication?"

Back 27

Asking "why" questions demands explanation

Front 28

"I'm proud of you for applying for that job"

Back 28

Giving approval

Front 29

"You really should have shown up for the medication group"

Back 29

Giving disapproval

Front 30

Patient: "I'd like to die"

Nurse: "Did you go to AA like we discussed?"

Back 30

Changing the subject

Front 31

"Tell me whether my understanding agrees with yours"

Back 31

Seeking consensual validation

Front 32

Patient: "I can't talk to you or anyone else. It's a waste of time"

Nurse: "Do you feel no one understands?"

Back 32

Verbalizing the implied

Front 33

"What are some other ways you can approach your boss?"

Back 33

Encouraging formulation of a plan of action

Front 34

"You seem tense"

Back 34

Sharing an observation

Front 35

"It seems unlikely to me that you're the Queen of England"

Back 35

Voicing Doubt

Front 36

"During that time, you were feeling..."

Back 36

Minimal encouragement/general lead

Front 37

"A while ago you mentioned you were having trouble controlling your anger at work. Tell me more about that"

Back 37

Focusing

Front 38

"Go on"

Back 38

Minimal encouragement/general lead

Front 39

"Do you like it there at the clinic?"

Back 39

Closed-ended question

Front 40

"Let's work on some goals for your treatment"

Back 40

Focusing

Front 41

"It sounds as if you might be bored at home"

Back 41

Paraphrasing

Front 42

"Your mother remarried soon after you were born?"

Back 42

Placing event in time or sequence

Front 43

"When you turn away from me, I feel shut out"

Back 43

Giving feedback

Front 44

"Tell me about yourself"

Back 44

Broad opening

Front 45

"I'm not understanding very well. Please explain again"

Back 45

Seeking clarification

Front 46

"Can you tell me about your fear?"

Back 46

Closed ended question

Front 47

"What makes you say that?"

Back 47

Indicating the existence of an external source of power (locus of control)

Front 48

"Tell me more about your job"

Back 48

Exploring

Front 49

"Give an example of a time you thought everyone hated you"

Back 49

Seeking clarification

Front 50

"That was Dr. Todd, not a terrorist trying to harm you"

Back 50

Presenting reality

Front 51

Patient: "My brother spend all of my money and then has the nerve to ask for more"

Nurse: "You feel angry when this happens?"

Back 51

Reflecting

Front 52

"Tell me more about that"

Back 52

Exploring

Front 53

"My purpose for being here is..."

Back 53

Giving information

Front 54

"Has this ever happened before?"

Back 54

Encouraging comparison