The Importance Of Therapeutic Communication

Communication is the exchange of information; therapeutic communication is the advancement of physical and emotional wellbeing of a patient. Nurses use therapeutic communication on an everyday basis to provide support and information to patients. Several techniques used in therapeutic communication include: sitting down with the patient while talking, asking open-ended questions, maintaining eye contact, avoiding interruptions, or restating what was said throughout the conversation. These techniques are used to portray a sense of genuine listening and provide the client a chance to open up. Providing a judgment free zone allows the client to open up and share their deepest concerns or fears. By knowing all information possible, the nursing team can provide optimal care for the patient.
The healthcare team is also a network that must use therapeutic communication. Effective communication is key to preventing data gaps, update outdated information, or keep a track of major changes. Effective communication can prevent errors that can lead to patient harm or even death. Nurses must know how to communicate with their team on all levels to provide the best patient care. …show more content…
Literature shows techniques to use and not use, but in the clinical arena the techniques are not always used. In order to gain better compliance, the healthcare agency could implement patient surveys on the nurses they have had. If a nurse scores under a certain mark, the hospital could implement a mandatory training to encourage the use of therapeutic communication. By implementing a measurement and creating repercussions for ineffective therapeutic communication, hopefully, the compliance rate would increase. In order to spread the information patients need to know about how their nurse should be communicating with them pamphlets or videos can be made with the pertinent information and distributed upon