Conclusion
Reflecting back on this communication course, what skills have I enjoyed learning about and using the most?
Communication and Nursing
Welcome to Human Relationships 107 of the Practical Nursing Program of CNC. In Human Relationships several concepts of communication are explored. This blog allows students to share thoughts and comments in an interactive format of objectives following each Learning Activity discussed in class.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Learning Activity # 13 - November 10th
What did I now think differently about communicating with an individual with variable needs?
Warren: Im not sure if I learned anything new about communicating with someone with variable needs but it was a good class to remind me how important it is. It is very important to treat people with variable needs as normal as possible while preserving their self worth and dignity. It is very important to treat someone like this as if they have as much independance as possible. People with any type of physical disability usually prefer to be treated as normal as possible as if they do not have a disability but at the same time for people to recognize when they would require help with something. (11/21/11)
Ginette: After watching the video on peoples differences one thing caught me. That treating everyone the same is no better then treating them differently because of their differences. Other ethnicities and other differences should be treated as unique. I was always under the impression that treating everyone the same would be the best option. It surprised me that it was also discriminating. People who are not similar to us are considered to be out of our comfort zone. It is true that we can associate better to people who are closely like us. I find it’s because we don’t have the experiences that are relatable. Being able to understand someone’s point of view will help us relate to their situations. Stereotypes are based on ignorance. It’s not just cultural differences but also assumptions on size or physical differences that can be an issue. (11/20/11)
Jen: After watching the video that was played in class, I realized there are still people out there that are so uneducated and disrespectful when it comes to dealing with people that have disabilities. Sometimes it is unintentional, but we have to remember to treat everyone with the respect they deserve, no matter what the circumstances are. The video had some great points, and I learned a lot. Although I thought I knew most, there will still many things that got covered that I was unaware of. Mostly, it taught me some better approaches, techniques and the proper way to go about things, concerning the disability. This class made things realistic for me as well, since we will all be dealing with people that have disabilities in clinical. I am still very nervous, but like I said before, this class made me aware of how I should, or shouldn't act and the importance of our approach. (11/19/11)
kali: I found this class very helpful. I don't have a lot of experience dealing with people with variable needs so I learned a lot. It will definatley come in handy going into clinical. I will try to keep the tips we learned in class fresh in mind so I can put them to good use. (11/19/11)
Kara: I found this class very helpful as I am often nervous when trying to communicate with people with variable needs. I especially enjoyed learning the dos/donts when dealing with a person with visual difficulties. This is an area that I have very little experience with. Techniques such as telling the person when you are leaving the room seems so simple and obvious but I could see myself doing that without realising it. As for dealing with people with hearing difficulties my grandparents have given me a lot of experience! I am excited to learn through trial and error while in clinical, but this class gave us some gret ideas to work from. (11/19/11)
Kimmy: I am glad I learned about how I can help someone with variable needs, it’s not the easiest thing to do but it may be the most rewarding. After learning about the different ways of communicating, it won’t be so daunting or difficult to try and effectively communicate. People with variable needs should be treated like anyone else so we should respect and accommodate their needs and try our best to help them, as how we would like to be helped if we were in their shoes. I hope that I will have an opportunity to work with people with a disability so I can only try to understand what it’s like and how as I nurse I can adapt to help them. I like how the movie in class addressed not just physical disabilities but also biases and stereotypes towards person of a different age, gender, culture. We should be accepting of people regardless of what age, gender, culture and/or disabilities they have. (11/18/11)
Rashpal: I always was fearful every time I had to talk to person with variable needs. I thought I had hard time understanding them and tried avoiding a conversation. After this class I feel that it should not be that difficult at least I will not fearful. I am sure it will be challenging, depending on each individual’s needs. Video was defiantly helpful, how I have ignored to talk to people just because I thought it is difficult. This learning activity was a great eye opener for me. It was very interesting to learn about one’s connection with wheelchair. Some excellent tips I learned were to get down to their level when you are talking to person with variable needs. Excellent cues about to check person’s hearing aid to make sure they are on. It was good experience about teaching person who can’t hear and we had to give directions about taking meds at home, I realize how hard it can be. I feel much more confident to talk to people with variable needs now and can certainly get better it and I can’t wait to use these skills in the clinical. (11/17/11)
Dave: Now that we’ve done this lesson on communicating with people with variable needs, I find myself more prepared than ever to do this, but before this class I have had numerous experiences in talking with this type of people. When I was working in Takla as a First Aid Attendant, there was an elderly gentleman who was extremely hard of hearing, but he really liked me and enjoyed telling me stories. He would come to the Health Centre and sit with me while I did my job. I would make him a cup of tea (Have you ever seen a 95 year old man get a buzz from a cup of orange pekoe?) and we would talk all afternoon. Sometimes he brought his hearing aids with him, and would need my help to insert them. I am also quite close to my grandmother, who is also quite hard of hearing (Far from deaf, but you couldn’t tell from the volume of her television). I have also have a friend who has a severe stutter. One underlying theme is the patience that is required to communicate effectively with individuals with variable needs. (11/15/11)
Alana: After practicing communication on an individual with variable needs I learned a lot of things. Most importantly, you treat them as an equal and you treat them as if they were anybody else. For example, not yelling at the top of your lungs when talking to a person who has difficult hearing. I have seen this before at it not only looks extremely disrespectful but it probably is insulting the person and making them feel bad about themselves. I also learned how important patience is and how much of a role it plays in effectively communication. (11/15/11)
Sarah: Communicating with individuals that have variable needs can be difficult in many ways. Some would include clients that have difficult hearing or are deaf, cognitively impaired, and blind or doesn’t speak English. The exercise we did in class showed me some of the barriers when communicating with a person with variable needs. For the exercise, I played the role as a deaf client and it was very challenging for me to understand what my partner was trying to tell me by just seeing their nonverbal actions. Also this exercise made me realize how fortunate I am. The class reminded me, when with someone with variable needs, I would communicate with them just the same as I would with everyone else but recognize the barriers with communicating. I haven’t had much experience when communicating with anyone with variable needs which is unfortunate. Understanding the strategies to communicate with individuals with variable needs will benefit me in the future. (11/15/11)
Julie: What I've learned from this class is that not all people communicate the same. there's a number of factors that can hinder the communication process, I guess I've been aware of these all along but to have them reviewed is beneficial. What I think about is the way people communicate with me? I can't hear as well and am always discretely trying to pull my ears open to hear better. I guess that's where I find myself with some communication difficulties. I know that I have to speak clearly and slowly- not too loudly- which is what I'm quite prone and likely to do. The video we watched in class was obviously exaggerated to show these incorrect ways to deal with individuals, but I wonder how many times this actually happens in every day life? (11/15/11)
Stephanie: I have found that communicating with someone with variable needs can be challenging, but can also be exactly the opposite. I’ve found that someone who is patient, and will speak in a different tone and change their attitude will have better success. In this class we’ve done a variety of activities to put us in the patient shoes. I know that some have seen it as an unnecessary activity and those people will be the ones who suffer with their patient. I personally love working with people who have variable needs. I love making their day by listening to them, or by simply taking the time to understand. I like to treat those people, and one day patients, exactly the same. While it’s been said that’s not always the right thing do, I find that if I just make them feel equal as me, then I’ve done the right thing (11/15/11)
Sam: Working with people with variable needs can be a challenge but in this class we were given a few ideas to make it easier. You should always talk to them as though they are no different than yourself, and you should never stand over them. The movie we watched was crazy, the girl was insanely rude and ignorant. The scary part there are many people out there that are actually like her or worse. I understand now more then ever that you may have to change a few things when talking with some one with variable needs, I.e., you speak slower if they are hard of hearing, but you still talk to them as a average person. People in wheel chairs you talk to them not there chair. Nobody is categorized for there disability which most people end up doing, everyone is different including every disability is different therefore you need to treat them all differently and find a communication skill that works best for them .Keep your mind open on ways to communicate with people with variable needs. (11/13/11)
Lara: Communication with people with variable needs is so different for every need. With my experience with a person in a wheel chair, I find the most important thing you can do is not talk down to them. If you can pull up a chair and talk at the same eye level as they are, it makes them feel better. While talking with someone who is deaf, sometimes you just need to talk loud or just slow so that they can lip read what you are saying. I to have led a blind person around, and at meal times I have explained to them where their fork and spoon was on their table and what kind of meal was on their plate. Makes me realize what I take for granted every day. This class also made me realize how it is so important not to treat them differently, from anyone else. We are all human, we all deserve respect and dignity. (11/12/11)
Kate: Working with people with disabilities definitely takes some adapting to. Figuring out a comfortable routine that works for both people. It takes some getting use to and looking at things differently. The first day I ever had to guide a blind resident around I forgot about watching where he was going at one point and walked him straight into a door, lucky for me he wasn't hurt and this actually was what started a really close relationship with this particular resident. I liked Jacquies quote "focus on ability not the disability" if you can see past the disability you'll see someone just you. (11/12/11)
Kristy: Watching the movie with the girl who was So far past being rude opened my eyes a bit too inappropriate communication to people who have variable needs. Nobody is perfect, and some people’s difficulties are more noticeable in others, but that is no reason to treat them any different from anyone else. I am quite interested in working with people with different variable needs, like someone who is visually impaired for example I would love to help. On the other hand I will not lie I am a little unsure of working with someone who is more cognitively impaired since I have never really interacted with anyone with that need. Working in the class together though on that sheet about what we should do to help the communication process I found to be very helpful. Speak to people like they are exactly that, just people, whether they be blind, deaf, or have some sort of cognitive impairment, there is no need to treat them any different then we treat themselves. (11/11/11)
Ellisse: Months ago in healing class Jaquie had said, "person with a disability, not disabled person" this changed everything for me. My aunt and uncle take care of a girl who has williams syndrome and she also needs hearing aids. When I first met her I talked to her like a child, not realizing how belittling this is to her. I feel that Jaquie's statement opened my eyes all of a sudden I know how to approach and talk to this person or any persons with disabilities. Knowing that a disability is something they have and not who they are, bridges the communication gap. (11/11/11)
Sharalee: This class was very helpful in the different and diverse ways in which to communicate with someone with variable needs. It was a good reminder about the cliches in which we as a culture put on someone who is either blind, deaf, or in a wheel chair. It is so easy to think that because someone has a sense or an ability missing that they are sub-grade or below. This reminds me of something Crystal said about a month ago. Sometimes society looks at variable needs as weak, but to overcome their adversities they are stronger then we could ever imagine or be. I try my best to not discriminate and to make anyone who I meet feel welcomed and accepted. I believe that if you have a heartbeat you deserve the respect and dignity that I would bestow upon any of the Queen. (11/11/11)
Carrie: I have had the experience of working with clients who have different needs in the past. It’s not quite on the same level, but it has provided me with, not so much practice, but a bit of a foundation. I find it’s hard sometimes to relate to someone who has a disability because I don’t really know what it is like for them. I do really try to speak with them directly and treat them the same way as everyone else, but at the same time, I’m not sure if this is an appropriate response. You never really know what someone else is thinking, and what might be perfectly acceptable to me is not for someone else. I found this class to be good as it helped remind me that someone who has variable needs might need to have the way that we communicate altered to best suit their needs, and that I still need to focus on the person themselves in an open manner. (11/11/11)
fiki: On the video where the two students asking their non-English speaking lab instructor a question and got unrelated answer for their question made me smile. I can relate myself with that experience and it reminded me the frustration I had because of language barrier. My experience was not different from people with difficulty of hearing experience in their everyday life. To have conversation and understand the message correctly I had to pay extra attention for the non-verbals, listen carefully, read lips movement , people sometimes raise their voice without knowing and with the intention that would help......The energy I used to spend to carry on longer conversation with someone was like doing a chore. Anyways, the experience helped me to have the understanding what individual with variable needs experience in terms of communication. What I didn’t know before this class was like Karin said touching (petting) a guide dog can affect its work. (11/11/11)
Karin : I agree with Amy, communication is a skill that requires us to be adaptable. I also agree with Crystal, that it is an important skill to have in order to enhance the communication experience between ourselves and our clients. I can see how having a broader skill set in terms of the ability to communicate with individuals with variable needs would benefit the client greatly.This in turn will make the nurses experience more rewarding as well. I particularly found the part in the video about the two men from different cultures very interesting. It made me realize how easy it is to be disrespectful without meaning to be. Again I agree with Amy, although some of the specific tips for communicating with individuals with variable needs weren't new to me, it was nice to have them reinforced. I also appreciated learning some new ones too, for example, not touching the seeing eye dog when it is working and always ask the owner before doing so. (11/11/11)
Crystal: The thing that I appreciated most about this class were the reminders that not everybody with a particular disability is the same - sharing a condition (like blindness, hearing impairment or the use of a wheelchair) does not put people into categories where certain types of communication have to be used, but it does give us an idea of what MIGHT work better and allows us to try different approaches to communication in order to find a style that meets our clients needs/abilities. Having grown up learning to communicate with people of all levels of ability, I think that this is an important aspect of communication to remember. People with varying abilities are often socially neglected because of a lack of understanding by others as to their different communication needs (it's easier to avoid a conversation than to try to speak with somebody you cant understand) and I think it is important for us to learn these skills in order to avoid this type of neglect. Our clients will appreciate it! (11/10/11)
Amy: Communication is definitely a skill that has to be adaptable, because all people all different and factors like culture, age, or disabilities can affect how effective they give or receive messages. I don’t think any of us act or think like the rude girl in the video we watched in class, who was completely close-minded and disrespectful to people different than her, but there is always room for improvement. Barriers can arise in communication, but the important thing is to take into consideration other languages, hearing difficulties, or visual, physical, and cognitive impairments. It was good to go over some specific tips that will be helpful when we come across patients or people who have variable needs, because a person who is blind obviously has different communication needs than a person who is deaf or has hearing difficulties. No matter what their situation is, I think the most important thing is to be open-minded, empathetic, and patient with your client. (11/10/11)
Monday, 31 October 2011
Learning Activity # 12 - October 31, 2011
Feedback occurs in our lives in various ways and times. Following your readings and class discussion how will giving and receiving feedback impact your professional practice?
Kimmy: Giving and receiving feedback is an import part of our professional practice. Giving and receiving feedback is a skill that can enhance your performance. For example if you were given feedback about something that you needed work on, and if you are able to take it and use that feedback you can grow in your field and become better. Feedback can impact the relationship you have with peers, clients and colleagues; how they respond to your feedback or how you receive their feedback will have an impact on your relationships and how they perceive you. By giving feedback and being able to receive it willingly you earn the respect of those around you. Your knowledge of how to correctly give and receive feedback is important, that you give feedback about the task not person themselves, and to also do it in a timely matter and to be specific can enhance the feedback process. (11/17/11)
Alana: Giving and receiving feedback is an important area in any profession. Nursing in particular is important because it allows for learning and growth on a daily basis. Giving feedback is intended to help others constructively and for the better. Receiving feedback allows one to recognize their mistakes and learn from them. At times it is going to be difficult to give feedback to someone because some people take it better than others and some people do not take it at all and may even find it offensive. (11/15/11)
Stephanie: Giving feedback can be rather difficult in situations, and I’ve found that can be very challenging. Often feedback will be taken the wrong way and that affects the working relationships. I tend to be passive in giving feedback to certain people in fear of it being taken the wrong way. In past situations in the work place setting coworkers have overreacted and lashed out at me. While that may be due to how I deliver the feedback, I find that most people see feedback as an attack on them personally and not as a way to improve themselves. I’m hoping that in the future my fellow classmates, and eventually nurses, will be able to take feedback in the way that I would like it to be received. (11/15/11)
Hazel: Giving positive feedback to friends, family and co-workers has been a lifetime learning curve for me. I always struggled with compliments since I was never raised with any sort of praise I felt at a loss for words when positive feedback was given. In the last 5 years, I have put much effort into giving both positive and non positive feedback but I have always found it to be a challenge. Giving feedback when you have concerns about issues with co-workers is tricky because you do have to work with them everyday, so choosing the right words and the right time is imperative if you want any sort of resolution. As well, receiving non positive feedback can be very difficult if you are still in a place within yourself that contains low sefl esteem, defensiveness and low confidence. Finding your comfort zone where you are ok with receiving non positive feedback comes with a lot of life experience (well it did for me anyhow). But I think if a concious effort is put into place, a lot can be learned from non positive feedback as we are not always aware of our actions, body language and so on. Again, becoming good at giving and receiving feedback requires practise, practise, practise. (11/09/11)
Hazel: Giving positive feedback to friends, family and co-workers has been a lifetime learning curve for me. I always struggled with compliments since I was never raised with any sort of praise I felt at a loss for words when positive feedback was given. In the last 5 years, I have put much effort into giving both positive and non positive feedback but I have always found it to be a challenge. Giving feedback when you have concerns about issues with co-workers is tricky because you do have to work with them everyday, so choosing the right words and the right time is imperative if you want any sort of resolution. As well, receiving non positive feedback can be very difficult if you are still in a place within yourself that contains low sefl esteem, defensiveness and low confidence. Finding your comfort zone where you are ok with receiving non positive feedback comes with a lot of life experience (well it did for me anyhow). But I think if a concious effort is put into place, a lot can be learned from non positive feedback as we are not always aware of our actions, body language and so on. Again, becoming good at giving and receiving feedback requires practise, practise, practise. (11/09/11)
Amy: Feedback is something that we have been giving and receiving for entire lives, which is obvious in school settings when you hand in an assignment and receive feedback but I hadn’t really thought about comments like, “I really like how you did your hair today” to fit into this definition. It’s definitely something that is evident in our professional practice as nurses because helps us to build on our skills and knowledge and gives us a different perspective that we may have not been thinking about. It’s definitely something that you have to be respectful about when you’re giving it; because I’m sure we can all recall some situation in our lives when people gave us feedback in a rude manner or when we really didn’t want anything to do with it, which in the end is more destructive then beneficial. I think as long as you’re open to feedback from the people around you, and when giving it you have a good reason and go about it respectfully then you can’t really go wrong. (11/09/11)
Sam: Feedback is a huge part of every individuals lives. It is what teaches us what is right and what is wrong. Without feedback no one would no weather or not they are doing something properly. Feedback is also what builds our relationships and personalities. Though people would rather hear positive feedback, negative or constructive feedback is less wanted. The negative feedback is what makes us a better person. It also takes a strong person to be able to give proper constructive feedback because most people are afraid of the conflicts it may bring. A strong person is also a person who can take negative feedback and learn from it. Giving feedback to coworkers will help build a safe a reliable working place. If you let someone know what they are doing is not proper it will help them learn to be a better nurse and help them be able to fix it. The person might not have even known what they were doing was wrong, so pointing it out will help them. Feedback is a huge part of the client nurse relationship, giving them positive feedback about how they are caring for themselves will lead them to continue doing a great job. Telling them that they could improve may help them work on doing a better job of caring for themselves. (11/08/11)
Kara: I really enjoyed this class on feedback as I think this is a topic that many of us struggle with. It is often easier to not confront someone, because we dont like to "stir the pot" or we are worried that the person will not be receptive. Since this can be such a touchy subject I find it very helpful to have guidelines to follow. I think a very important part of these guidelines is to consider your motives and reasons for wanting to give feedback. Often people do not do this and give feedback for the wrong reasons which starts the conversation off badly and it gets worse from there. I have seen people give feedback very well, which usually results in it being taken very well. This sucess is largely based on the language that is used. Being hard on the problem and not the person is huge, as is using "I" language instead of pointing the blame at the other person. These are skills that I need to improve on, and I think it will be a while before I am confortable giving constructive feedback, but I can really see the positives it can bring. (11/06/11)
Jen: We have been taught, if you do not have anything nice to say, then don't say nothing at all. This is sometimes the barrier between giving and receiving regular feedback. feedback is a very important form of input that we give to people, in order for them to learn and excel. It can be very rewarding, and most people appreciate it as it means improvement, motivation, and the chance to make course corrections. But sometimes feedback can be taken as a negative, although it may even be constructive. Some people are quite hesitant when giving feedback because it can be taken as if their thoughts and ideas are better than there's. The bashing of their ideas can lead to low self esteem and hurt feelings. We have to be careful as to how we present our criticism, either if its positive, negative, or even angry criticism. Not everyone accepts feedback in the same way, although once learnt that feedback isn't meant as a dig, it will be of assistance as sometimes we are blind to our flaws and it is one of the main ways to improve at what we are doing. (11/06/11)
Francine: I think that after this class, I have realized that feedback really is all around us and does come in so many forms. Before i think when i would get feedback, i wouldn't think of it as that, I didn't really pay too much attention to it. I'm just thinking of when you take a picture and post it on facebook, that your friends will make comments that are positive or negative as well as they may hit the "Like" button. I never really thought of that as feedback until now. Now i feel that i am more aware of feedback being all around me, and am actually anticipating each time i get feedback from someone and how i will use the feedback to better myself as a person. Feedback is especially necessary for nurses, because that way we have a better understanding of what is needed of us from each client, our managers/supervisors and etc. Feedback is a great tool, and I think it's the best used when you have realized when your talking to someone that they are actually giving you feedback as to oppose of bringing you down. (11/03/11)
Sharalee: I think the quote “it is better to give then receive” is not so true in this case. I think to be able to graciously receive feedback is a skill that needs to be constantly worked on. Not only do you have to be able to differentiate between what is constructive or useful but what is practical and useful. Giving feedback is equally as important. It is good to speak up and voice the concerns, but looking at why you are giving feedback needs to be addressed. If you are merely giving feedback so that you feel better and not for a change then it needs to be addressed differently. This whole concept goes back to what we have been learning from the beginning. As nurses we are constantly learning and teaching and if we are to lose that then we lose our place. (11/03/11)
(Anon): Giving and receiving feedback definitely can impact professional practice. Positive feedback is always needed because when we give positive feedback that mean we acknowledged the effort put in to the work and it boosts the person’s self-esteem as the same time it encourages good work ethics. On the other hand, constructive feedback is also important to deal with problems. Constructive feedback is helpful when it is given appropriately and in timely manner, which leads to improvement. It also has to focus on the behaviour than the person otherwise it can damage the persona’s self-esteem and discourage to strive for improvement. (11/03/11)
Sarah: Giving and receiving feedback is very important. Receiving feedback benefits us in many ways. If we are receiving positive feedback about a skill we are preforming it makes us feel very good and informs us that it we are doing a good job. Receiving negative feedback can warn us that we need to change or improve on what we are doing. Also, receiving negative feedback will impact my professional practice because I would be able to learn and improve from it. In my clinical I hope to receive feedback. If I’m doing something wrong in the clinical and I didn’t receive any negative feedback, it would really not help me in any way. When someone is receiving negative feedback it can sometimes be harsh or hard to take in but eventually it is for the good. Giving feedback can help someone to improve on a skill which is why to give feedback is important. Every day we come across someone giving positive or negative feedback. (11/03/11)
Carrie: I believe feedback is an excellent way to improve my practice. If there is something that I am doing that can be done in a different way that makes it easier, more convenient or just makes more sense, then why not change the process. Even feedback that might not be on a positive note can be good. If I am doing something incorrectly, or in a manner that might not be safe for either myself of my patient, I would definitely want that pointed out to me. That way I can change what I am doing for the better and improve my process. As long as the feedback is given in a constructive manner, not just pointing out an error to make me feel bad, it is a good thing. There is almost always ways that a person can improve what or how they are doing and I am always open to suggestion. (11/03/11)
Rashpal: It is very important to learn to receive feedback from others in order to be successful in professional career. Especially in lab settings I would prefer to have the feedback from my teachers and peers now, instead making mistakes at clinical later. Professional practice will be affected if I do not learn to receive feedback. If my response to feedback would be defensive every time, this will decrease my progress rate. I am preparing myself to ask for feedback from my coworkers and trainers, so I can become a good nurse. I will definitely be clear about what area of my practice that I am concern about and I would like to know if I need to make changes. I would like to train people eventually and know I understand how to give feedback that can beneficial to the receiver. Providing feedback in appropriate manner can help trainees to achieve their optimal goal in professional life. (11/02/11)
Lara: Giving and receiving feedback will play a huge part in my everyday life as a nurse. I will have to learn to be good at accepting feedback as I will probably be getting lots of it as a new nurse. I would hope that I will get lots, so that I can improve on all areas that are needed, so that I can be a great nurse. Receiving feedback can be easy for me if it's done in a nice way and not in front of a lot of people. I don't mind if someone tells me how I can improve as long as they are being nice about it. For giving feedback there is a time and a place for it to. Do make sure you put it nicely so it doesn't come accross mean or hurtful and make sure your not doing it in front of a lot of people and for me I really need to remember to leave my personal opinion out of it. (11/02/11)
kali: I think feedback will greatly improve my practice. I hope that I will recieve plenty of feedback when we go into clincal. It will make learning so much easier for me. It can be difficult sometimes to recieve or give feedback but in the long run, when I have time to sit and reflect on it, it's usually beneficial. (11/02/11)
Kristy: Feedback can be awesome, or it can be brutal, helpful, or demeaning, it all depends on how it is worded. In the “real world” I’m sure that receiving feedback will really help me, how else is one supposed to know whether they are doing something right, or wrong? Even the basic feedback of hearing that something I wear is nice helps me; it makes me happy and boosts my mood, which makes me a better person to be around. We learn how to do things with feedback, like using the transfer devices in the lab, once we were shown how we asked to practice in front of Donna so she could give us feedback as to what we were forgetting to do. As for the negative feedback, depending on how it is worded will depend how I respond to it. Feedback can be touchy though, if not worded correctly it can cause the receiver to become upset and defensive. I want to try the “I” statements instead of the “You” statements, see how it goes for me. (11/01/11)
Ginette: Giving and receiving feedback is important but what is more important is how and when you do it. I know in the past when receiving negative feedback I was very defensive. It seemed like a personal attack. After watching the video I realised it was in the technique and timing of the negative feedback that made me defensive. When giving constructive feedback it is extremely important to do so in private. Letting people know what they have done wrong in front of co-worker or patient is extremely unprofessional and causes resentment towards the person giving the feedback. Leaving all your personal thoughts out of the feedback is also important. It’s about the action and results of the action that should be discussed. Your personal beliefs about the person is irrelevant. The goal is to have to person improve and not feel attacked and judged. I expect to get feedback about my progress and welcome it. (11/01/11)
Ellisse: Before I started the LPN program here at CNC, I worked for a restaurant in Burns Lake. When I got the job my boss told me this was a positive place to work and we try to keep it up that way. I worked there for 2 years and it was a great place to work, my boss was always really great at handing out positive feedback which boosted the moral of everyone in the workplace. We did receive plenty of constructive feedback but she would always make sure to add the positive feedback. By picking an appropriate time to talk to us and by making sure the positive feedback is voiced just as much as the constructive can make the world of difference in the workplace and people you work around. This has influence me to take this wherever I work. Feedback is so important to give and know how to receive as it can boots the moral of employees which can make the workplace a joy to be in. There is nothing worse than absolutely going to a job we hate. (11/01/11)
Warren: Feedback is a very important factor in nursing. If we want to get better at being a professional we will have to receive feedback. Feedback is one of the hardest things to receive as we tend to get deffensive instantly. It is important house the feedback to our advantage and use it to grow and get better. If we did not have feedback we would not be able to continue to get better at doing things and would not know if we were doing certain things wrong. I am going to learn how to welcome feedback more as I think I am one of the people that tends to get defensive. As a nurse I will welcome feedback and use it to grow as much as possible. (11/01/11)
Crystal: Giving and receiving feedback will affect my practice in many ways. I know that I have a lot to learn and I know that receiving feedback will help me in my growth as a practical nurse. I totally agree with Karin & Julie in that I have been more receiving of feedback from some people, and less from others (and timing is important too). I am more aware now of how to deliver feedback and I think the way in which I am given feedback really does affect how perceptive I am to it (like Kate, I tend to get defensive when critical feedback is not delivered to me appropriately), but I know that feedback will help me to become a better nurse and, like Karin, I will seek it out. I also can see how giving feedback to others will affect my pratice as well. I think it is important to recognize others for a job well done and I think that giving respect to others in the form a positive feedback (when/where appropriate) can definitely make for a more positive working environment and can improve "team" relationships among colleagues. (11/01/11)
Kate: Feedback is tricky thing, if your giving it you want to be sure your not hurting somebody's feeling and only addressing what's most important leaving personality clashes out of it. And if I'm the one receiving feedback I almost always tend to get defensive. I need to remember feedback is there to enhance a skill or something I've done not to make me feel like I've failed at something. I'm working on keeping an open mind about feedback. It is really important to me that people see me as approachable especially in a work setting and that means being able to approach me if there's something I could be doing better. (11/01/11)
Julie: Feedback depends on a lot of factors, why, who, where, when? When I get feedback- positive or not, I favour it, but often wonder what the person's intent was/is. When I give feedback I try to be genuine, and question my own motives, but wonder if it's received the way it's intended. If someone's going to give you negative criticism, of course you're going to be defensive, it's just a matter of making it constructive, that's where I need some work. The handout we received today are good leads into the conversation, was using it today in lab(sorry Kate, and Warren), using "I" statements instead "YOU" statements. Another good point the DVD made was to make sure that your timing is appropriate. If you give negative feedback, follow it up with some ideas or suggestions on how to better deal with that situation or collaborate with the person on how to approach that situation for next time. (10/31/11)
Karin : I feel that receiving feedback is a very important aspect of my professional growth. I understand it's importance and know that it is next to impossible to grow without it. As far as constructive feedback goes, there have been times where I have been more open to hearing it than others. If the individual providing me with the feedback truly has my best interests at heart, I find it a lot easier to process and make the necessary changes . I am heading into a new career and recognize that I have much to learn and expect to be given a lot of feedback. I will be proactive in asking for it. As far as giving feedback, I usually try to ask the individual for permission to give it. As a mentor in the fitness industry it has been my job to provide feedback to many, as a student nurse it is also my goal to continue to provide feedback in a respectful manner, with good intention, hopefully providing an opportunity for the receiver to grow. (10/31/11)
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Learning Activity # 11 - October 27, 2011
After considering the consequences, how hard will it be for you to say "No" to a request; or to confront a client or colleague in your future nursing practice?
Hazel: From all of our teaching at school, I don't think it would be hard to say "no" to something that we have been taught is not the right way to do something. However, as a newbie nurse, I think we have to be careful how we say "no" again it's all about choosing the right words and sharing how we have been taught with our future employees. I am sure that there are lots of short cuts that seasoned nurses make in order to get their work done, and as long as they are not detrimental to the client we have to find a balance with our new careers. Considering the consequences before taking action is extremely important, following the nurses standards of practise is also important if we want to have a successful career. Communication with co-workers is the way to go, expressing how you feel about something that is being done in a different manner than what we were taught is the only way to come to an understanding. Regardless, I expect it to be a somewhat tricky situation. (11/09/11)
Ginette: I am the type of person who will avoid conflict like the plague. I find it hard to say “no” when I am capable of helping someone. I would rather suffer through something I don’t want to do if it means helping someone else. I’m willing to give the shirt off my own back. I need to work on the skill of what to say in conflict situations. I always thought that saying “no” will deter someone from asking you something again. Using the CARE method will help me with how to go about saying no. Conflict does not mean a fight. It is an issue brought up in hopefully a calm and direct manner. The consequences of not saying no is too important in the nursing practice to avoid it because you feel uncomfortable saying it. If you are unable to do something you must say no. (11/08/11)
Sam: After thinking about consequences saying “No" to a request or to confront a client or colleague in your future nursing practice will be extremely difficult. Saying “No” may start conflicts therefore makes people scared of saying no. I believe having someone never saying no is not benefiting them at all, people will just think that you will do anything and everything for them since you never do say no. People should be able to say no even considering the consequences, especially if they are not comfortable doing what is asked. Saying No a huge part of nursing, you do not want to find yourself in a situation that you are not comfortable in. Being able to say no also shows how you will not let anyone step all over you, and people may respect you for that. Everyone should become confident in saying no. (11/08/11)
Ellisse: The thing about saying no is that people fear it. People fear the word no thinking they will offend or be offended by hearing it. I don't think that is the case, maybe sometimes but not always. I have this friend who doesn't like to say no, I'm not sure if he's aware of it but when he's asked a question and he wants to say no he's very good at avoiding giving the answer or just ignoring the answer and changing the subject. Sometimes he just doesn't show up somewhere when he says he'll be there. This is the kind of behaviour people have when it's hard to say no. It's flighty and unreliable, all because of the fear of saying the word "no" and heaven forbid add "thanks". I don't mean to be insensitive to anyone because I can understand that fear. For me it isn't usually a problem to say no, I'm a pretty easy going person, so I really don't say no unless I really don't want to do something, I say it when I mean it and when there is a reason for it. I also know that saying no can really only get you the result you want. (11/01/11)
Crystal: I definitely have a hard time saying "no" when I am asked to do something by somebody I care about or feel like I am indebted to. I am still learning how to do so in a way that does not make myself feel bad or hurt the other person's feelings. I think that sometimes, no matter how carefully you go about it, some people cannot take being told "no" gracefully and that is something that I am working on accepting. In my future practice I can foresee this being a learning curve for me. I have a strong desire to help people who are in need, whether it is my business or place to help them or not. As a nurse, I can see this contributing to a heavy work load and to me "wearing thin". I also know that this is something that I will have to learn to overcome or deal with more effectively when I am in practice - practicing in the classroom is easy, but when there are people in need in front of me, saying "no" to certain things will be far more difficult. I know that this is something I will be able to overcome though, and I think that the classroom discussion and communication text will help. (10/31/11)
Kate: I use to have a hard time saying no until I realized it wasn't benefiting me at all to be a doormat. I wanted to come off as reliable but soon realized that it ended up in me being walked all over. Saying "no" is definately a skill I will need to work on especially in the nursing field if I'm not comfortable of something being asked of me. I feel like I'm letting someone down if I say no so need to get over that and maybe look it from the point that I could be letting myself down. (10/31/11)
Sharalee: I think that it is especially hard for someone who is a people pleaser like myself to say no. I do not have a hard time saying no to something that goes against my beliefs or would harm someone else. If saying yes allows for everyone to be happy except for me then it is hard to say no without feeling selfish. Confronting a person who is confrontational will always be a struggle for me as I am a middle child and love to have peace around me. I think that it is a growing process for me to be able to stand up for myself when an issue arises without feeling like I am letting someone down. I have to understand that facing issues head on, right at the time will greatly decrease my stress and in fact create a more peaceful harmonic atmosphere. (10/31/11)
Kara: I have trouble saying no because I always assume that by doing so I am hurting their feelings. I also think that as nurses we all have a caring instict (or else we wouldn't want to be nurses) so we really care about others and want to help them out if possible. I think this instinct makes saying no even harder because it goes against our nature of wanting to help. I know that it is important to say no in some situations. As nurses we need to take care of ourselves so if you are called in for a shift, but you know that your really need some down time, it is important to say no and take care of yourself instead of pushing yourself and eventually getting run down and sick and missing a week of work which is even more unhelpful than saying no to one shift. I find confrontation fairly easy because I am a perfectionist so to me if something isnt right, it needs to be fixed. I do this all the time in my marriage when I see something I dont like, I immediately bring it up. Sometimes I have to learn to identify which problems are worth confronting and which ones I just need to let go. I think this will be harder with co-workers though because it is often easier to just keep the peace, but confrontation is an important part of being an efficient team. (10/30/11)
Jen: After the last class, I realize I have a hard time standing up for myself, confronting others, and having to tell someone no. But after learning the importance of it all, I will start to stand up for myself more often, eventually making it easier and easier. Keeping the elements of the CARE confrontation in mind, it will make each situation easier. Valuing ourselves and respecting views of others is such an important trait, as well as having constructive dialogue when it comes to confrontation. When standing up for ourselves, we need to stay honest and relevant and to not settle for less; stick to the bottom line. While doing all of that, communicate as equals. Confrontation, as well as being confronted, can be very damaging to ones self esteem. It is very important to handle criticism appropriately and rationally. Sometimes, not taking it personally is what we need to do when someone says something that we do not want to hear. And when we are nervous about being assertive, think of the worst possible outcome, then re-think it realistically. (10/30/11)
Carrie: I find that I have a hard time saying no to people, mostly when it is a friend or family making a request. I feel bad when I can’t accommodate them or help them out when they need it. That spills over a bit in my professional dealings. When a coworker or client has a request, my first instinct is to try and help them out. That is something that I am going to have to be more conscious of in the future in my nursing practice, as it is not always possible to be able to accommodate everyone and sometimes I need to put myself first instead of last. When it comes to confrontations with coworkers and clients, I do tend to handle those well. I am not about to compromise my safety or wellbeing or that of others just because someone is angry or upset. I just have to remember to stay calm and collected and not take it personal. I’m still working on this one, though. (10/30/11)
fiki: I always have difficulty in both these words, saying ‘no’ to someone or ‘confront’. However what I understood from our class discussion was that we can always say “no” to someone without hurting feelings just by explaining our reasons why we said “no “. In that case it eases the awkwardness and the tension. The other great tip I have got from the discussion was confronting someone without offending the person. I really like the “CARE” approach. I always relate confrontation with fight and aggression and that is always the last thing I want to do. “CARE” is a positive and assertive approach to solve problems especially if you care about the relationship and want to continue to have a good relationship with that person. In my future nursing practise I can see myself practicing these positive methods with clients or colleagues (10/28/11)
Lara: Saying "no" to someone for me can be hard at times. I really don't like hurting someones feelings, and for some reason when i say no i really feel like i am. I guess it depends on different situations, sometimes saying "no" can come easier than others. Saying no to staffing for me got easy if i had plans, and for some staffing clerks, some were really good, and you just couldn't say no to. The way we were taught in class how to confront someone made a lot of sense to me because I was one out of the class that has a hard time confronting someone because, once again, i don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I feel that by using that tecnique of "care" i will have an easier time putting my words together. (10/28/11)
Kimmy: After learning WHY we need to say “no” and HOW TO confront a client or colleague, I think it will be much easier for me to do so. Now I think of saying ‘no’ or confronting a person not because you don’t like them, but because you have a professional duty to be responsible for yourself and the well being of others. If I were to be confronted about a behavior that needed to be fixed, I would take that in a positive way and reflect on it so I can pursue to be a better nurse. I can understand how people take confrontations too personally and to heart, but in the long run it helps fix negative problems and behaviors that person may be causing. Learning about how to use the CARE format makes it MUCH easier to confront someone in a diplomatic way that doesn’t backfire on your either. (10/28/11)
kali: I don't think it will extremely difficult to say "No" in the future. I think that the older I get, the easier it gets. What we learned in class about confronting people will definitely help me in the future. I don't find pleasure in confronting people, but sometimes it has to be done. So its nice to have something to go by. (10/28/11)
Amy: I can see how saying no at times would be difficult in nursing, because I have experienced this at former jobs where your boss really needs you to come in, and you feel guilty if you say no but you have plans. Usually if I ended up saying yes I wasn’t all that beneficial anyways because I was so unhappy about being there, however sometimes you just have to take one for the team. Confrontation is not my forte my any means so in some cases this may be a struggle for me, but using the CARE formula will certainly help me in these situations. I think I would be harder for me to confront a colleague because although like a client the request would be for their benefit I would feel like it wouldn’t be my place to say something. Along with assertiveness this will have to be an area I work towards, starting with getting my roommate to do her share of the dishes! :) (10/28/11)
Warren: Saying "no" in a situation at work to a client or collegue should not be hard for me. It may be hard at times to say "no" but it is something we have to come to terms with because in order to have a good work environment we have to. at times a person may not want to say "no" because we are scared for the reaction we may get but it is important that we are honest.If a colleague is doing something that is having a negative affect on the shift it is important to be able to tell them or else the problem will persist and affect the clients as well. (10/28/11)
Sarah: In many situations saying no is very difficult for me. The first thing that came to my mind when saying no to someone was when my grandma kept telling me to eat more and more and I did even though I was full it was hard to say no. When I first started working I struggled with saying no to my boss because then I just feel extremely bad to say no and I ended up working even though I was busy. Eventually I was able to say no simply by just saying, “I’m sorry I’m not available to work”. Working for so long I developed the skills how to say no in the professional way. For me to say no to a client or colleague will depend on the situation and who’s asking it. To be assertive relates to this because we can say no in a right matter being assertive. (10/28/11)
Kate: Confronting anyone is a hard thing to do. Nobody wants to hurt anyone else's feelings but it some cases its important today or it will drive you crazy. I liked what the video said about whats the worst that could happen? Now divide that in half and thats probably the worst case scenario after confronting a certain person. It weighs far too heavy on you to burden something that is causing you distress, it's best to take some time and think about how your going to address someone and do so in a positive way starting with "I feel..." (10/28/11)
Karin : For me how difficult saying "no", to a request will depend on the situation. At this point in my life, having been the manager of a business for 20+ years and raising 4 children I have had a lot of practice saying no. I've also been in plenty of situations where I have had to confront a collegue or client, so I suppose it won't be that different as a nurse. There are going to be times when you feel more compelled to say yes to someone than others. I try to avoid feeling guilty but can't say that I am always successful with that. This has led to burnout for me in the past. Today's class reminded me of how important it is for us to decide whether a request is reasonable or wether it may be reasonable to fulfill the request. It is our choice to refuse a request depending on the situation. Being assertive is healthy. (10/28/11)
Francine: For myself, I don't find it typically hard to say No to people. Maybe it's because of many experiences I have gone through while working in the hospital, especially with clients who are NPO and are asking for a glass of water. I feel bad that i cannot help them but at the same time know that what I am doing is small step in aiding with their treatment and possibly early discharge. As well it all really depends on the person, the situation and the timing.I have learned that you cannot please everyone and be suffering inside with the regret.As for confrontation, I'm not too big on confrontation unless it is something worth while and bothers my values and beliefs. (10/27/11)
Alana: I have a hard time saying “No” to some situations. I think that there are appropriate times to say it and other times it is entirely up to you, again I think that it totally depends on the situation. I think that confronting a client or colleague will be difficult but that difficulty also relates to the situation and what is going on. If they are doing something unsafe or potentially harmful I think I would be ok with confronting them but other than that I think I would have a harder time in doing so. Confrontation is needed for success and the working relationship, assertiveness goes along with confrontation too because you need to be assertive to confront someone. (10/27/11)
kristy: I think that in the work environment, like in clinical; I will have a hard time saying no because it is my job to try things that may be ‘unpleasant’, because being a nurse includes things like that. As for other things it mainly depends on the situation and who is asking for what. I try to do everything my grandma asks of me because I love and respect her, same with my father. For work right now, when staffing calls me I usually have no problem saying no to a shift, I am too busy with school usually. The confrontation part of today really made me laugh. It is so true that when people think of confrontation they think of a fight, or a standoff of sorts, but using the hospitals (?) way to describe it, and using CARE it didn’t seem nearly as aggressive as was once thought. I enjoyed CARE and am curious to actually use it in a real situation to see the results of it. I am defiantly glad I asked Bev though about the consequences part and how it is best to use positive consequences over the negatives because that can sometimes lead to the person becoming upset or offended, something that we want to avoid. (10/27/11)
Julie: Very difficult, and perhaps why assertiveness skills need to develop. When I say "no" to someone, automatically i'm feeling this guilt, guilt that I've let someone down, or not been the person that someone can count on. I guess it would depend on the situation as well. If it's a co-worker asking me to fix the photocopier AGAIN after demonstrating how to remove a paper jam for the nth time, I can easily say no, or ask them to call the helpline, or if it's above my scope I can see saying "I don't feel comfortable with this procedure, or have had no training with this". Whenever I've had to confront a co-worker, I try to be cordial, and get to the real issues, forget the skirting around, and be direct, it helps me to write down my thoughts before hand and use only factual information. (10/27/11)
Stephanie: I struggle with saying no in certain situations. I can say no to my parents, my friends, and my boyfriend quite easily. However, saying no to my boss is often quite difficult. I’m what you could call a “push over”. If I tell my boss I am unable to work a certain day and then I end up scheduled for it, I more or less suck it up so to speak. I’d like to think this will change in the hospital, or care home setting but it won’t be as easy as I think. I feel like I need to please everyone and do everything I can to help. I have to grasp the concept that it’s okay to say no. I’ve gotten better over the past few years with the help of my friends, but I still struggle with it on occasions. In time this will hopefully change! (10/27/11)
Rashpal: Assertiveness can play a big role in all professions and even in your personal and social life. It can be hard because not everyone is very confident and sometimes it depends on the situation. Assertiveness can help to resolve issues quickly. Sometimes non assertiveness gives encouragement to people with aggressive behaviours. Just because one is afraid of conflict and other person may assume that it is ok for them to continue with their aggressive behaviour, which can be very destructive. Big deal about small talk is that, not using the small talk skill may give your client the impression that you are very rude, dry and snotty. Small talks should be fun and relaxing. It should provide opportunity for nurse to connect with patient at deeper level. It should make client feel comfortable and cared for. (10/27/11)
Learning Activity # 10 - October 27, 2011
How important is assertiveness in our nursing practice? And, what is the big deal about small talk anyways?
Hazel: Small talk is huge.....it helps to establish a relationship between people in a non threatening way. It helps to create a sense of caring which is so important is our chosen careers. I believe that is you can create a good relationship with people then you don't have to be aggressive when you want things done. Explaining the why's and what for's and the benefit it will bring to our clients is key because once the relationship has been established our assertiveness will be more readily accepted. Everyone wants to know what's in it for them, so if you can communicate the benefits to them, I feel you have a win win situation. I expect that a person in a hospital situation wants to feel cared for - so if we can accomplish that, we probably would have a more co-orporative client. (11/09/11)
Sam: Assertiveness is a huge important part of nursing. A nurse has to be able to point out if something is wrong, if something was not done right and also to be able to stand up for themselves. I believe being assertive really benefits people and creates a safe and proper working environment. If you are able to confront coworkers with something they are doing wrong it will make your environment less negative and it could benefit the other coworkers. Another important thing is small talk. This is because it builds a relationship with the client and the nurse. When you get to know someone it makes it easier to care for them. Also when I patient gets to know their nurse it makes them feel more comfortable and safe. Small talk takes the edge off and makes situations less awkward. It also shows that you care and that your not only there to do your job you are there to actually take time and get to know your patients. (11/08/11)
Ginette: I am not assertive when it comes to the work or in public places. If my meal in a restaurant is bad or inedible I will not send it back or ask for it to be redone. Being assertive is getting your point across and being direct without being aggressive. I have always been passive because I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or step on toes. Though I do find that being a push over is not beneficial either. In order to get things done you need to be assertive and get you point across. Small talk is also important. In order for a patient to feel at ease and comfortable with you, you need to start with small talk. It also shows that you care for the person and make them feel special. You’re not just going through the motions. Seeing them as a person and not a room number. (11/01/11)
Crystal: Assertiveness is very important in a field of work such as nursing. If we are not able to be assertive, we may be placing ourselves and/or our patients at risk. It is important for us to know how to be assertive in a way that gets our feelings across but does not damage our professional or nurse-client relationships. There may be times when we need to be assertive with our patients and it is important that we be able to do so in a way that does not make our patient feel inferior or like they are being told what to do. With colleagues, we need to be able to stand up for what we believe in without coming across as somebody who is bossy, unapproachable, or rude. In my own experience, small-talk has allowed me to get to know the residents in the care facility in which I volunteer. It has allowed me to gain the trust of a few residents who are apprehensive whenever a new face comes around. Small-talk gives the message that I care when so many residents are surrounded by staff who don't take the time to get to know them or simply do not have family or friends visit them as much as they would like. The biggest thing that small-talk facilitates is a feeling that they are not alone. In nursing, I can see how small-talk could serve as a catalyst to a "helping relationship" between myself and my clients that would allow for a greater level of trust and, as a result, an even greater level of care. (10/31/11)
Sharalee: Assertiveness is something that is a beautiful skill and quality to behold. It allows controversy to be overcome without a fight, a point to be understood and the well-being of the person to be upheld. There is a fine line between passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive and assertive. When you find that happy medium its like find the sweet spot of a bat and cranking a homerun. Whenever I think about small talk I think about something that my mom said. She told me that she loves talking about all the small things with me because when something big comes along she wants me to know that I can tell her anything. (10/31/11)
Sharalee: Assertiveness is something that is a beautiful skill and quality to behold. It allows controversy to be overcome without a fight, a point to be understood and the well-being of the person to be upheld. There is a fine line between passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive and assertive. When you find that happy medium its like find the sweet spot of a bat and cranking a homerun. Whenever I think about small talk I think about something that my mom said. She told me that she loves talking about all the small things with me because when something big comes along she wants me to know that I can tell her anything. (10/31/11)
Sharalee: Assertiveness is something that is a beautiful skill and quality to behold. It allows controversy to be overcome without a fight, a point to be understood and the well-being of the person to be upheld. There is a fine line between passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive and assertive. When you find that happy medium its like find the sweet spot of a bat and cranking a homerun. Whenever I think about small talk I think about something that my mom said. She told me that she loves talking about all the small things with me because when something big comes along she wants me to know that I can tell her anything. (10/31/11)
Kara: I can see how being assertive as a nurse is an essential. If fact I would say that most of the nurses I know are very assertive and have a way of coming across politely but very direct. I never really connected the fact that this is probably to do with their profession and spills over into their personal life. I think this is an important skill and I know that I appreciate people that are to the point, but I think the challenge comes in being assertive without being rude or offending someone. This is definietly something I need to work on as I tend to either be a pushover or if I am really upset I tend to be overly assertive and rude. Small talk is something that seems to easy but I will be first to admit this is not always the case. I feel like some people are born with "the gift of the gab" and I am not one of them but I have definitely seen an improvement in myself on the last few years. This is an area that I tend to negative self talk so now that I am adressing that I have found that small talk comes easier. (10/30/11)
Jen: As a practicing nurse, it is important to be assertive as it shows value and confidence in ourselves, and our profession. It builds respect and shows that we appreciate a client, as we are not trying aggressively violate them but to just simply get through to them. We need to stand up for our own rights and needs and when being non-assertive it shows many things. As a client, if we sense that a nurse is being passive, shy, or fearful, we wont feel confidence in them , therefore, not well cared for. Being assertive shows that we are not afraid of a challenge as we struggle to find the win-win solution to the problem. Another form of communication we use as nurses, is small talk. When dealing with the public, small talk usually comes easily. It is such a simple form of communication, that breaks the ice and fills silent gaps. Small talk builds rapport and gives the other speaker a sense of security as they are sometimes opening up to a stranger. We have to remember, not everyone wants to take part in conversation as some people do not do small talk. But if the person is interested, small talk can break communication barriers and foster the conversation. (10/30/11)
Carrie: I think that assertiveness is very important to our nursing practice. When you are assertive you come across as being confident. When a person is confident and self assured, others are more likely to listen to them. It’s like the video that we watched on the difference between being assertive and non assertive. When you are not confident, don’t speak up, mumble and don’t look at your audience, people are less likely to listen to you and tend to discount what you are saying. By using small talk when you are dealing with your clients, it can help set them at ease and be more comfortable with you. I did a lot of that when I worked at the bank and I noticed that people seem a lot more comfortable sitting in a waiting room with someone there if there is a bit of conversation flowing, even if it is all about the weather. (10/30/11)
Lara: Before the class started I had a hard time with the difference between assertive and aggressive. I really enjoyed that movie that we watched it made so much sense and put everything into perspective for me. I can now see how assertiveness plays a huge role as a nurse and how we will need to be good at being assertive but in a calm way and not at all aggressive. If we come accross as not being assertive and being passive, people won't take us serious and we won't get our message out there. Small talk is so important in our role as a nurse, it's how we get to know the person and how they can get to know us and feel comfortable with us. It can make that person feel that we care about them and that we are showing interest in them. Small talk can be so easy to do, and mean so much to someone. (10/28/11)
Kimmy: This class definitely opened up my eyes about small talk and being assertive. It is very important to be assertive especially if you want to obtain a certain task or goal on time, or when your patients aren’t cooperating with you. The video sure helped make things clear about how to perform things in an assertive manner, especially so that you aren’t taken advantage of by clients or colleagues. All it takes is for you to be clear, confident, and know what you want! It wasn’t until the explanation on small talk did I did understand its importance. Small talk can help set the tone and put the pieces of the puzzle of your clients life together, by small talk you learn about what’s import to the client, this can have positive outcomes on the person’s health and allow you can work with them easily. Small talk doesn’t include asking them how their feeling or if they feel pain because that is a part of their assessment. (10/28/11)
kali: Assertivness is very important for a nurse. For example: We will be very busy and if someone is doing something that is not very efficient or slowing everyone down, then it needs to be addressed with assertiveness. We will be leaders and this is a quality that every leader should have. Small talk is a big deal because it will help set us (the nurses) and the clients at ease. They will also feel cared for when we take the time to ask about them and exchange words. (10/28/11)
Amy: Personally I think small talk is a huge deal in nursing, because it’s been stressed so much that we are there not just to provide them with medical care but also to show our clients human caring. Without small talk you would not get to know your patient or create a successful nursing-client relationship. Also without using small talk I feel like it would increase my level of anxiety or stress because it makes the interaction awkward and I would feel on edge. Assertiveness is also an important skill to master, which I have to admit that it is not my best skill, and even in my personal life I tend to be a pushover at times or not speak up for myself to avoid confrontation. I know this is not beneficial to me in anyway except for I don’t experience much confrontation but in most cases it builds up my resentment and ends up being destructive. I could see this being equally unhelpful in my nursing practice, so I will definitely have to be more aware of my assertiveness and work on improving it. (10/28/11)
FIKI: Being assertiveness in our nursing practice is very important. Nursing can be a stressful practice since it involves someone’s life and well-being. Nursing is also a team work. If a nurse lack assertiveness it can affects her performance on the job and makes it more stressful. One thing I have learned from the video that compared the assertive, non-assertive and aggressive person was that how of all only the assertive person easily get everyone’s attention, respect and willingness and be able to deliver his message clearly and effectively. What is big deal about a small talk? well,It sounds small but it is a beginning for every relationship. In that way am fortunate,It sounds funny but it is true. Most of the time I don’t need to work hard to initiate conversation especially when I work with the elderly. My distinct accent grab their attention easily and initiates conversation. (10/28/11)
Warren: Assertiveness in nursing is very important for a few reasons. To be able to get the proper message effectively to a client or collegue you have to be assertive. Nursing is a professional job and being assertive allows you to get the message across in a professional manner, Assertiveness is an honest, effective way to communicate while maintaining the dignity and respect for another person which is very important not only in nursing but everyday life. "Small talk" is a very important tool in nursing to use. It is a way to find out more information about your client so you are able to get to know them. It also allows the client to not feel so alone while staying in the facility. (10/28/11)
KATE: Being assertive and huge component of being a nurse. Because we will be a leader to the care aids we need to be able to stand our ground or say when something isn't being done the way it probably should. The examples of the girl on the phone at work is something I say all the time and some people would actually get away with it. you could see all the problems that it would cause though, heavier work load for the other care aid and the nurse not knowing how to address the problem because she doesn't want to get in the middle. learning to be assertive in nursing is a crucial skill. Perhaps when we need to advocate for the patient. (10/28/11)
Sarah: To know how to be assertive benefits us in many ways. We can simply be assertive when we need to barrow something. Being assertive plays a big role when being a nurse. It is important that nurses have to be able to stand up for their rights and not to let everyone step over them. Also to be assertive, to get our point across, this can be difficult when we are scared of shy. When being assertive it is important to remember not to become aggressive or express anger because that can lead to problems. Therefore being assertive in a clam matter is important in our nursing practice. In addition, small talk is also very important in nursing. When we visit a client we can small talk about family, the weather or sports and much more which makes them feel comfortable with us. I love to small talk and especially when I work because it breaks the silent and keeps a conversation going. Sometimes small talk can enlighten someone day and leave them with a smile on their face. (10/28/11)
Karin : Being assertive is very important in our nursing practice. It is having an awareness of self and others, it allows us to maintain our self respect and the respect of the client/colleague. Is it always easy, no, but developing this skill is worth the effort. Some people come by this skill more naturally than others. The options, being aggressive or passive, don't feel near as good. I believe that this skill goes along way in showing others we care about them and that we care about ourselves as well. What about small talk, well, I love it. It invites conversation, it shows you are interested in the person, you can learn a great deal or not...can't hurt. (10/27/11)
Francine: Assertiveness is definitely 1 of the key skills a nurse needs to have. From my own experiences in working with clients and nurses, there are many times you just want to give people a piece of your mind, but at the same time I believe assertiveness is similar to biting your lip and trying to rephrase what you feel in a more appropriate manner. What also comes to mind is what my mother always told me, "kill people with kindness, they won't know what to do!" As well small talk is also important for a nurse to get an idea of their client. By having small talk I believe this gets the clients mind off where they are and everything they are going through. Some may not want to do the small talk, but sadly for them they might be missing out on meeting someone quite interesting and who may have similar experiences as the nurse. (10/27/11)
Alana: Assertiveness is a very important skill to have in the nursing practice. It will be used and practiced many times. There is an effective way to use it and it is important to not be too passive or to aggressive. Using the right amount of assertiveness will get your point across and it will also help to establish functional relationships with coworkers and patients. The aspect of small talk is important in relationships as well. It establishes the first impression, sets the tone of the relationship, and defines trust. I think without small talk, there is a lot of awkwardness and tension involved. (10/27/11)
kristy: Whether or not a nurse is able to be assertive I think will really affect how well of a nurse on can be. I cannot imagine a nurse yelling at a patient for eating too many sweets and lying about his intake of them. After reading the chapter and talking in class I defiantly got a clearer picture in how we have to talk to people, and why the other ways don’t work so well. The movie we watched really helped with this. Only including stuff related to what the issue is, and being confident in what you say with the information already researched versus being loud, obnoxious, or unorganized and nervous, will really make a difference in how people view you and what you say. As for small talk, I never took into consideration that one can use it to ‘CSI’ people and get information from them in that way. I always figured it was more of something to break the ice, or keep the conversation going to help avoid the silence that some people find uncomfortable. Enjoyed the class today and got to see things in different ways and now understand assertiveness better. (10/27/11)
Julie: Being assertive is an important skill to develop without being too aggressive. It is looking out or stand up for myself, and I can see how this would be an important quality to posses in a busy nursing environment or practice. I understand that it's a busy place, and demanding work, so, it could be so easy to just agree to whatever's handed to you. During our team exercise today, the aggressive, assertive and non assertive groups- I could see where I fit into each one of them, and how being non-assertive could be perceived as being a pushover, or easy target. Small talk, ha.ha. Small talk is what I refer to as 'niceties', the weather, sports, kids, pets, vacations, little things that engage people in quaint conversations, develop and build a sense of ease and trust, hopefully to develop deeper trust when required. (10/27/11)
Stephanie: Assertiveness is arguably one of the most important aspects to the nurse client relationship. If a nurse is unable to be assertive the will “walk all over” the nurse and will be to do what he/she wants when he/she wants. For example, if the nurse is unable to tell the patient that sugary foods are bad for his diabetes with assertiveness then the patient will continue to do so. The only aspect that comes close to assertiveness is small talk. Some may argue it is unnecessary but they would be wrong, very wrong indeed. Think of it this way: everyone participates in small talk every day. Maybe you small talk with the customers at your work, or small talk with the lady who makes your coffee at Tim Hortons. Either way, it’s a part of our daily activity whether we choose to accept it. It makes the patient feel comfortable and more willing to trust the nurse. Isn’t that what we want? (10/27/11)
Rashpal: Assertiveness can play a big role in all professions and even in your personal and social life. It can be hard because not everyone is very confident and sometimes it depends on the situation. Assertiveness can help to resolve issues quickly. Sometimes non assertiveness gives encouragement to people with aggressive behaviours. Just because one is afraid of conflict and other person may assume that it is ok for them to continue with their aggressive behaviour, which can be very destructive. Big deal about small talk is that, not using the small talk skill may give your client the impression that you are very rude, dry and snotty. Small talks should be fun and relaxing. It should provide opportunity for nurse to connect with patient at deeper level. It should make client feel comfortable and cared for. (10/27/11)
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Learning Activity # 9 - October 26, 2011
After class discussion, what aspects of the 'helping relationship' was new and/ interesting to you?
Hazel: When I think about a helping relationship, it reminds me of the type of assistance I receive when I purchase a service, an item or simply ask for help in any given situation. The more helpful a person is to me, the more I appreciate their efforts and always make referrals on their behalf. I believe the same is true in the client-nurse relationship, going that extra mile can make all the difference for both the patient and myself. I am understanding that co-operation between client and nurse is a high priority, our days run more smoothly when we all co-operate together, so the more helpful I can be to the client, the less resistance I will receive. After all, it really is all about the clients well being and if I can attain that, I too will feel the rewards. (11/09/11)
Ginette: The ways in which I learn is by doing things and watching someone do things. I do realise that not everyone learns the same way and that our learning styles as teachers have to be diverse. I remember a math teacher that I had in high school in which would teach one method of solving an equation and if you didn’t understand that method of teaching you were out of luck. We have to adapt our teachings to our clients in the method that they will learn best. The worst thing that could happen is if the patient goes home not understand how to resume the best care for themselves. This form of a helping relationship is what every nurse should do. (11/08/11)
Sam: I never though of the way that people learn is also the way that they teach. After this was pointed out I started to think about it and figured out I do this. This could complicate a helping relationship because when you are trying to teach someone and they learn different then you teach, it makes it difficult to teach them properly. Therefore people, especially nurses, should learn how to teach in all aspects, visual, verbal and hands on. The helping relationship is supposed to be social which will help a nurse figure our how a client learns. This will make the helping part of the relationship go smoother. When a client is able to learn they will benefit because they will understand better and therefore be able to heal better. (11/08/11)
Crystal: It was interesting to me that a "social relationship" was defined as a relationship that is mutually beneficial, but that a "helping relationship" was one that was established for the benefit of the client. Looking at it from this point of view will, for me, make it easier to help and care for clients while separating myself in a personal aspect (when required) so that I am better able to provide a level of care that meets with their needs and not let my personal feelings get in the way. Also, the therapeutic vs. non-therapeutic communication techniques as well as what both the client and the nurse bring to the relationship was interesting. Discussions like these allow me to look at things from a different perspective and I know that I will be able to reflect back on these discussions/points in my practise in order to be a better nurse. (10/31/11)
Kara: I enjoyed this class as it brought up a whole new aspect to the client-nurse relationship. Up until now we hve focused on the care aspect of the client-nurse relationship but in this class we focused on the teaching aspect of the relationship. This is an important part of the relationship as what we are able to teach clients in the time we have with them, will benefit them when they are on their own. For example if we teach a client exercises to promote healing after a surgery, we may only be able to teach them for a few days but when they leave the hospital and go home they will have the skills to be able to promote their own healing for months to come. I also liked the reminder that we need to teach in different ways and identify their learning styles. I become very aware of this one time when I was driving somewhere with a friend. We both did not know where the place was so she asked me to print off directions before be left. I was the driver and when we got in the car she asked for the directions. I handed her what I had printed off which was a google map with a star that marked the location. She looked at it for a moment and then asked, "Where are the written directions" and I responded "Oh I only printed the map". She looked at me for a minute and then asked "But how will we know where to turn etc" to which I replied "Just look at the map." It became very clear that we had very different learning styles. One of us found the map more helpful and one of us found the written directions more helpful. We also expected the other to have the same learning style. It was a good illustration to me of how 2 people can get to the same location but the way in which they got there can be very different. This is the same when it comes to clients who are healing, in 6 months they may be healed but how they got there may be a very different story. (10/30/11)
Carrie: I didn’t realize how much of a helping relationship can be based on a social relationship. For me, there has always been a line between teaching and socializing with a person. Taking on the role of teaching someone how to do something has always been easier for me if there is some sort of distance between you. It is easier to stay on task and avoid distractions. But, as we learned in class, if there is a basis of social conversation, there can be a more comfortable atmosphere that can open up the lines of communication and can put people at ease so they might be more receptive to learning. This can be a good thing in regards to getting your message or “lesson” across to them. (10/30/11)
Kimmy: The big idea that I got from this learning activity is that it’s all about the client and learning information about them or from them to make their situation better, it’s not about you. This might include teaching them and meeting their needs of learning. Not everyone learns the same way so you have to think about ways that can increase your patient’s knowledge. What I learnt was that it’s a natural progression, so of course it takes time, but for me I think I have to work on being patient, especially when I m trying to teach my siblings. Working with patients is different, but by learning about helping relationships in the nursing aspect can improve other areas of my life. So in that sense it works both ways, but another thing that I thought was interesting was reading ‘don’t seek pleasure and satisfy own needs through the relationship’ which made it clear how it differs from other social relationships. (10/28/11)
fiki: What I found interesting in the aspects of the ‘helping relationship' was that how sometimes we forget that we are individuals and each of us has our own way of perceiving and processing information. I am glad that Bev pointed out that and reminded us to respect individuality. As a nurse for sure we will meet people from all walks of life, and to build a helping relationship we need equal participation of our clients. To involve our clients in the learning process it only takes us to acknowledge that we all are different but can work together towards the same goal which is the well-being of our client. (10/28/11)
KATE: Being aware of each persons learning style is a crucial because we all learn differently. I tend to be a more hands-on type and so when I'm showing someone how to do something I often find that I need to be actually be showing them not just giving them instructions. I'm aware of the different ways in which we learn when I'll say to someone "Come with me I'll show you" and their response will be "you can just tell me". (10/28/11)
Sarah: A helping relationship with a client includes being social with a client and in some cases we have to teach them. Everyone has different way of learning. I learnt from this class, that the way that people learn is the way that they teach to others. I found this very interesting because I never thought of that. We have to teach skills to clients that is our responsibility and have to make sure they understand what is being taught because that might not be the way they learn. If the client isn’t learning anything we would have to change up how we are teaching to accommodate the way they learn best. It is important to always clarify with our patient to make sure what way of teaching benefits them. As a nurse it is important to teach the client in a way that works best with them to learn in a helping relationship. (10/28/11)
Lara: I liked that class yesterday, and realized once again that not everyone learns the same way I do. It made it clear to me that everyone learns different and at different speeds. I didn't even really think about this before that we will need to think of everyones different learning styles. We will also have to make sure that when we are done teaching them that we give them an opprotunity to ask questions and check back to see if they are on the right track, or if we need to teach them in a different way that may be more effective to them. There is nothing more fusterating than someone teaching you something, then asking if you have questions while knowing that they don't really have the time to answer you. So you don't want to bother them and then later you have forgotten everything, and they are no where to be found. (10/27/11)
Francine: This learning activity definitely opened up my mind to realizing that yes nurses are teachers and counsellors, but by being an attentive listener you can find out so much about our client and their emotions, plans, and their lives. Just by having the client open up to, i feel that this is a good way to find out what type of learner they are. If their vocal, visual, hands on, or a little bit of everything. I know for myself that I am a visual and hands-on type of learner. That having someone talk to me for a long period of time, I will only retain so much information in a period of time. So I know for myself that I will have to work my hardest and try harder to make sure i stay attentive when listening to a client. It's how I would want to be treated if i was in their situation? (10/27/11)
Alana: I think the most new and interesting aspect of the helping relationship is the learning styles. Just because you learn a certain way does not necessarily mean that others learn that same way. Often we teach others the way that we learn. When teaching, you might have to change up your technique to ensure that what you are trying to teach is getting through to the person. The helping relationship is a powerful and strong relationship. I think with nursing, the helping relationship is the biggest, most important relationship. Caring and helping go hand in hand. (10/27/11)
Rashpal: I always understood that part of nursing was teaching to your client. But I never thought about others person’s learning style. To know the learning style was definitely new to me. It is very important in a therapeutic relationship. Teaching completed by one person does not mean other person have learned everything. One has to clarify and confirm that other person has complete understanding of the content. Also four phases of communication were new to me. These four phase of communication make complete sense now. Following these steps will create a smooth and well organized conversation and it will make us look very professional too. (10/27/11)
Karin: I found that being reminded of how it feels when someone is truly listening to me was a good way to remember how I would like to be when with a client. It is so true, that being listened to means that we are being taken seriously, that our ideas and feelings matter. I will have to make a conscious effort to practice listening without interjecting with babble and small talk. Silence is uncomfortable for me, but thinking back to when a person helped me I found that their silence was actually comforting, just having them present made all the difference in the world. (10/27/11)
Amy: A lot of these aspects of the helping relationship are either behaviors or attitudes that are second nature to us or that we have spent time discussing and practicing not only in Human Relationships but other classes as well. Although it seems silly sometimes ‘to learn how to listen’ it’s interesting to see how all the basic and complex knowledge and skills come together and are incorporated into our actual nursing practice and how we interact with clients. I think the teaching aspect of the nurse-client relationship is intriguing because I knew that it was important to inform and educate clients as much as possible so that they’re involved and active in their care plan and healing process but I hadn’t thought about assessing their personal learning style. I can see how if this had not been brought to my attention that I would’ve just assumed that my learning style would be the best one to use, but that is certainly not the case. (10/27/11)
Stephanie: I find that helping, and teaching most often mean the same thing. Helping is assisting someone, and teaching is doing the same thing. At least that’s how I do it. I struggle with asking for myself personally because of past negative experiences with it, but when I do ask for help, I’d rather only do it once. I’d rather be helped, and be taught to do it the right way without having to go back again. That’s how I help people. I’ll help to complete the task, but I’ll also teach them how to do it right next time so they don’t have to come back. That might seem a little sadistic, but that’s how I look at it. I would feel stupid if I had to ask over and over again how to do something especially if I didn’t get it after the 2nd or 3rd time. That is probably my past experiences with help coming out though. I’ll have to work on accepting the reality that it is okay to ask for help over and over again as many patients will likely do this. (10/27/11)
kali: After class today I though it was interesting to think about the way others learn. I have identified the way I learn, and like Bev said that is the way we will begin teaching our clients. Since all learners are different this may not be the right way for them. So it will be important to identify their needs first and go from there. I feel this will be easier since we have discussed different learning styles and also learned from each other in group projects. (10/26/11)
kristy: I thought it was interesting to have it pointed out that how one learns is usually how one will teach someone else. Thinking about it, it seems rather obvious to me, guess I just need to think about these things more. I think I’ve always figured that the nurse-patient relationship is a helping relationship, I mean, that is what the nurse does, and they ‘help’ the patient get better. This whole concept goes a bit past that and turns it into something that is more than just the job. I want to be good at my job, but I am not the lovey dovey hold your hand kind of person, so I wonder if this will make me unable to do the nurse thing. If all nurses are expected to have that soft side then I may struggle, but hey, fake it till it is real I suppose, I have done it before and it worked just fine. The smile doesn’t have to be real; as long as the patient is fooled it is all okay. Besides, it isn’t like ever single patient is going to be awful, I am sure there will be many who touch my soft spot. (10/26/11)
Julie: What I found interesting is that although all of this sounds pretty standard I wonder how many times myself or others forgot some of these basic relationship do's and don'ts. When reading this list, I found myself agreeing with the list; it's sad that this behaviour still continues today and that we need a 'do' and 'don'ts' list. I could resonate with the slide that pointed out the uncertainty or pre-interactive phase- prior to meeting the client, although you have a brief glimpse of their chart, report, or intake form, you still don't really know the person, maybe they had other things on their mind when the nurse observed and noted unfavourable or desirable characteristics, and that's what we have to go on? And then to have to move through the phases, and when I reach the working phase, I have to be mindful that not everyone learns as I do, and make note of what I see how to proceed with learning directions. (10/26/11)
Julie: What I found interesting is that although all of this sounds pretty standard I wonder how many times myself or others forgot some of these basic relationship do's and don'ts. When reading this list, I found myself agreeing with the list; it's sad that this behaviour still continues today and that we need a 'do' and 'don'ts' list. I could resonate with the slide that pointed out the uncertainty or pre-interactive phase- prior to meeting the client, although you have a brief glimpse of their chart, report, or intake form, you still don't really know the person, maybe they had other things on their mind when the nurse observed and noted unfavourable or desirable characteristics, and that's what we have to go on? And then to have to move through the phases, and when I reach the working phase, I have to be mindful that not everyone learns as I do, and make note of what I see how to proceed with learning directions. (10/26/11)
Warren: What was interesting to me today was learning about teaching someone while helping a person. I learned that helping is not just caring for them but also includes teaching a person sometimes and making sure that the person is learning what you are teaching them. It is very important as a nurse that when we have to teach a patient to do something that will help there care that we are teaching them in the way that the insividual patient learns. (10/26/11)
Jen: There are many questions we can ask ourselves when we are being put in a teachers role. We need to keep in regard how the individual learns best and the basic learning principles. We need to make sure that the client even learned what was being taught. Sometimes we teach in a specific way as to how we personally learn, for example, auditory learners will only teach through lectures. Sometimes, only listening will not fully meet their needs. Being a dynamic teacher, and switching your styles up to visual, and kinaesthetic will target everyone's learning style, as well as the styles we learned about today; cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. After this class I have learned that there are many aspects as to what makes a healthy, helping relationship that I previously did not know about. (10/26/11)
Sharalee: The main thing that I really enjoyed was to actually look into what the clients learning process was. It is so easy to me to learn the way that I learn because I know what that is. There is nothing more frustrating to have someone explain something to you, like it is the easiest thing in the world, when in fact you don’t learn that way. How you learn is how you teach, and I must recognize that people have much different learning and teaching patterns then I do. It is so important to figure out which teaching is most beneficial to the client even if that means changing the way that I teach. If the client fails to understand a procedure simply because I taught them then way I would want to be taught then the responsibility and their failure to understand falls to me. (10/26/11)
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Learning Activity # 8 - October 19, 2011
Communication skill is important in family, social and professional relationships. What are the benefits when we use the skill of empathy?
Hazel: I think empathy definately comes easier if we have walked in that persons shoes because we really understand so much more about how they are feeling deep inside. However, since we can't experience everything that someone goes through, grasping a clearer understanding of how they are feeling by communicating effectively about their situation opens the door to having a much more empathetic view of their situation. In the field of nursing we will have many opportunities to truly understand how a person feels by applying our listening skills, which will teach us empathy and I think when we are empathetic - trust is developed which leads to a better relationship and faster healing. (11/09/11)
Ginette: I honestly found empathy hard to describe before this class. I would have described empathy as being sympathetic but that is incorrect. Being empathetic is being able to put yourself in someone’s shoes. Sympathy is feeling bad or sorry for someone. I have a better understanding now what it means to be empathetic. Most people who are sick or have a life long condition don’t want someone feeling sorry for them they just want people to understand where they are coming from. It’s not about how you feel it’s about how your patient feels and having a deep understanding. I really hope that I’ll be the type of nurse who is able to empathise with her patients both having the time and the skill. In the past I tried to avoid being empathetic because I didn’t know what to say when someone is feeling emotional pain or sadness but sometimes just listening can have an impact. (11/01/11)
Francine: I believe that empathy is a good way to better understand and connect with our clients. After this class, i have gained a better understanding about empathy. Meanwhile at the same time, I'm still wondering when exactly should i be empathizing or sympathizing with someone. I believe that there are various situations that possibly both go hand in hand. This skill can definitely be a challenge for nurse, especially one who has never experienced what the client is going through. While it may come natural to others because of many experiences. As well as this skill is a great asset to a nurse, in better understanding and putting themselves in their clients shoes, even if its for a few minutes that client will greatly appreciate it. (10/27/11)
Alana: When we use the skill of empathy we are furthering our understanding of others. I like the term “Put yourself in someone else’s shoes”. Listening is one of the most important skills of empathy and it can really make a difference to someone who just wants someone to hear them out, especially when there is not much you can say to comfort the person. I know on a personal level, if I have had a bad day I feel better just having someone sit down and listen to what exactly is bothering me. I think that practicing and using empathy in everyday situations, especially in the nurse-client relationship is so important. (10/27/11)
Steph: If I could choose between empathy, and sympathy I would choose sympathy. This is because I find it hard to relate to someone when I haven’t experienced it myself. I find it easier just to sit and listen, and let the patient pour themselves out, and then I sympathize with them. That being said, empathy is important in the nurse/client setting, and I will have to work on it. The first step will be communication between myself, and the patient. That I have no issue with, it’s the inability to feel what they’re feeling. I feel that if I have proper communication I’ll be able to empathize easier or relate easier to them. For now, I’ll continue to sympathize until I learn the last of empathizing. (10/27/11)
Jen: After the class on empathy, we were taught that it is a feeling of its own, when it comes to showing care and understanding towards something or someone. Empathy often gets mixed up with the term, sympathy. Empathy and sympathy are both based on shared emotions. When being empathetic, we are able to accept and recognize another person’s point of view, sometimes with mutual, past experiences. We are holding the ability to share and personally understand other people’s emotions or feeling regarding their situation or condition. While being sympathetic, we are only sharing the feelings of another. Usually, by expressing pity or sorrow towards the person suffering. We feel bad for them, so we use our words or wisdom to try to make them feel better. Empathy is a much deeper sense of personal understanding. I never knew the difference between these two terms, and how dissimilar they really are. It is important to know how to act towards a patient while we are providing them with care. Sometimes we are unable to relate to them, so we must sympathize. But depending on the situation, if we can personally relate, we can empathetically proceed. (10/26/11)
Sharalee: When we use this skill it allows the other person to know that someone hears them and wants to share in their life. I think Silence is so key. People aren’t looking to you to solve their problems they just want to be understood. I had a girlfriend explain to me about the death of her father and I was overwhelmed with the emotion that I felt from her. She told me it didn’t matter that I didn’t know what to say it just felt so good to have someone share in her reality and pain. It allows us to draw closer and be invited into someone’s world (10/26/11)
Ellisse: I have always appreciated empathy more than sympathy myself. I think any person would appreciate empathy over sympathy in any circumstance. Empathy really helps to make a connection with the person you are talking with, and the person sharing the story feels that their story is of value and importance. Sometimes sympathy can come across as degrading to a person, and I can imagine being a patient in bed and being shown sympathy could be a little more than maddening. However when Empathy is shown that can make a difference, when someone shows me sympathy, it tells me that they are paying attention to me and understanding me, and my story and that is how I want my clients to feel when I listen and talk to them. (10/25/11)
Lara: Before this class I had a hard time differentiating between sympathy and empathy. I learned that empathy is not how you feel, it's how you listen to someone and how you talk to them. Looking back at my past as a care aid, I wish I listened more, I wish that I would have had the time to be able to do that and use these skills of empathy. When I become a nurse I just hope that maybe the workload might be a little lighter at times that I might be able to talk to people a little more than before, as usually in the past the nurses I worked with had a bit more time to do this. Looking back I can see now that this skill of empathy is what they were using. I not only want to apply this at school or work, I also want to use this at home. I like that it opens a up the person to say what they want to, by putting us in "their shoes" and not the other way around. (10/25/11)
Sam: Empathy is one of the most important skills a nurse should know. Being able to put yourself in either your clients position or their families will help you be an all round better nurse. You will be able to understand why they are acting the way they are i.e., acting out or yelling. To put yourself in someone else’s shoes opens up a combination of doors, understanding, accepting, and believability. You will be able to provide for your patient with full understanding of their needs. Empathy can be one of the hardest communication skills, getting passed biases or differences may be a challenge. If you can ignore your biases you can completely listen and understand the emotions, actions, and needs of the patient. Empathy is a skill everyone should be able to deliver even in the community, the world would be completely equal and without judgment and racism. (10/24/11)
Kimmy : In this class I learned that empathy is the most important skill required, therefore there are many benefits to using the skill of empathy. I remember when people showed empathy for me by listening to what I had to say without being too much of a mother figure or judging me by the decision I made. By showing this they are being compassionate and I feel that they truly care and listen to what I have to say. This really helps builds trust and a helping, healing relationship. Empathy differs from sympathy in a big way, and it proves to be more beneficial because by showing sympathy you’re giving your input and feeling sorry for the person, whereas with empathy it’s all about how that person feels and understanding them at a higher level, and you’re not playing a mother or nursing role but rather maintaining your identity; this also helps that person feel less anxious because they can let go of how they really feel and release the stress they may have. (10/23/11)
Rashpal: Empathy is very important skill to have in professional and social and in family life. When empathizing with others it makes them feels like that you understand them. Empathy is a process where you try to understand other person’s feelings and try to put yourself in their shoes. Empathy is not how you feel. It is very important that when responding back to others person’s feelings make sure to use words like: it seem that you are feeling......or, I noticed, it appears that etc. Benefits of empathy are that other person will feel that you understand their feelings. It opens up room for further discussions. Better understanding of relationship weather it is nurse client, family or professional relationship. It builds trust within two people. Empathy is an essential skill for a nurse to build a therapeutic relationship with the client. Empathy is when other person’s feeling are identified. (10/23/11)
Carrie: Learning the skill of empathy is important, not only to our nursing practice, but also in our day to day communications with people. It can provide a basis of understanding when dealing with children, parents, friends and even strangers. Most of us need someone to talk to from time to time, and by using the skill of empathy and helping the person you are speaking with feel like you truly understand what they are thinking, it can open the door for further communications. By empathizing with a patient, it might make them more comfortable with talking to you and they can be more forthcoming with what they are feeling and thinking. This will facilitate the nursing assessment process and help make a plan of action if we know what our patients are really feeling. (10/23/11)
Sarah: Empathy can be a difficult skill but it is very important to use because we come across situations of using empathy often. Empathy is basically “putting yourself in their shoes” to get a better understanding of what a person is feeling. It can be very tough to understand what they person is feeling just by using our judgment; therefore it’s important to be careful when expressing the way we think they feel. Sometimes it can be easy to notice how someone is feeling if they are crying with a smile and to clearly indicate by using empathy that they are happy. When having a conversation with someone when their feelings are noticeable, it is essential to specify of what we see of them. Starting a sentence with “I feel” or “I see” is important because it can lead to the person being more open to express themselves. Using empathy is very beneficial when dealing with a patient because it can show that we are caring for them and listening. (10/22/11)
fiki: Before this class I did not have a clear understanding of empathy and sympathy. Understanding the meaning and using it appropriately definitely make someone’s life better. The benefit of using empathy is huge; it can be a healing experience. One thing I have learned is that to empathize with someone, I really don’t need to have the same experience. The person only needs my presence, my understanding and acknowledgement of his/her feelings by looking the situation from their perspective, and letting them feel that they are not alone. I can’t think of any other better feeling than finding someone that can listen and share my feelings in my moment of despair. (10/21/11)
Kristy : What are the benefits of empathy? Well, if you can actually get past the personal bias’s and judgment the benefits are pretty large. To step out of your mind and ‘be in someone else’s shoes’ can make your understanding of a persons behavior or choices much more apparent, thus making it easier to understand the person. I see the plus side to saying “I feel that you are sad because you miss your family, is that right?” To me that sounds so awkward though, like I read it from a book to say it just like that. But I struggle with the communication aspect of life, always have, so I know I will definitely be trying to work empathy into my daily life so it gets easier for me. Kara really had a point though, if someone is spilling their heart out to you but you are busy, how can you politely tell them you have to go, it is kind of a hit to the face to be really open and have the person have to leave you alone. It could make the person speaking feel as if the nurse didn’t care to begin with, and want to withdraw because of it. (10/21/11)
Warren: Being empathetic is very important in communication skills but it is also a very hard skill in my opinion. It is tough to be empathetic and also takes a lot of practice. Having the ability to be empathic as a nurse is needed to be able to effectively care for patients. If a person was not to show empathy and was sympathetic instead, I do not think effective care could be given because you are letting your emotions block your ability to listen, understand and care for the patient. It also helps with the progress of the patient for the nurse to be empathetic because it is important for the patient to see that someone is listening and understands what the person needs. (10/21/11)
Kate: I think everyone is born with the ability to be epitaphic but have it be a strong skill it needs constant attention. We will constantly need to be empathetic but every patient is different thus where it requires being empathetic in different ways. I don't think someone can ever master this skill but we can definitely focus at being stronger in our empathetic behavior. (10/21/11)
Amy: Practicing the skill of empathy is useful in all types of situations because it allows us to listen to people, to create a connection with them, and help them express their feelings. I can see how empathy can be critical in communication because I’ve certainly used the phrase “Aw that sucks” or “Everything’s going to be okay” before, when my friends have come to confide in me, and it doesn’t get the conversation anywhere. If you were the client or if you were the one with the issue that needs to talk and someone uses one of those clichés, you get the impression that they don’t really care, or don’t know what to say. Thinking about it from the other person’s perspective is exactly what empathy is all about. It’s difficult to do this at times because automatically you want to agree with the person or offer advice, but as nurses we need to use this skill carefully and by getting them to share and analyze their feelings they will most likely come to their own solution. (10/19/11)
Karin : I think the benefits of using empathy is that it validates the persons feelings and opens up the line of communication. It allows us to get a full picture of what is going on, which is going to improve our ability to help the client. Customer satisfaction comes to mind, of course we have to be genuine in expressing our empathy. Faking it won't cut it. I think we can tell when someone is being real or not. Not being genuine or real, is going to elicit the opposite...the client will shut down and close us out. I'm with Kara, I would also like to know more about how to politely end the conversation. (10/19/11)
Crystal: I find it interesting that the simplest and most obvious of all communication skills ("putting yourself in another person's shoes") is also the most difficult to learn. I have always found it easy to imagine myself in another persons position, but actually vocalizing empathy is something that I have always struggled with. When Bev explained that expressing empathy is as simple as stating how [you observe or think] a person is feeling and why, it was like a lightbulb went off! I can see how this skill will show our level of caring to our clients while allowing them to feel as though they have somebody to talk to, to open up with. Of course, not everybody is going to be willing to talk about their feelings, but the simple act of noticing a person is, for many, enough to let them know that you care. I agree that it using this skill will be awkward at first but I'm hoping that, like many of the other communication skills we are learning, with practice empathy will flow naturally. (10/19/11)
Julie : I think empathy is a difficult skill to learn or teach, but when you understand its importance, it can help a conversation grow and go from basic to a deeper one with a many levels, like an onion, getting deeper and deeper towards the issues, and sometimes making you cry. Putting yourself in another's persons shoes is a difficult thing to do, and so really understanding or trying to understand a person without judgement or bias can sometimes be challenging. Empathy will happen when there’s a genuine feeling of trust, and safety. My class mate was so empathetic this morning, I was going through a personal struggle, she never once said "I know how you're feeling" or try to give excuses or reasons, just listened to me, then when I asked her opinion she gave her thoughts- never once saying that my feelings were wrong or dismissed my sensitivities, it was nice to have someone just listen to me. Hope I did this right? (10/19/11)
Lauren: I totally agree with Kara, I had always thought that sympathy and empathy were one in the same and was surprised today to learn that they aren't. Now that I know the definition of both, I can totally see how they are different. I think in the past I have been more of a sympathetic person rather than empathetical (is that even a real word?) so I will have to learn to change my way of thinking. This may be difficult for me at first because I can be a very sensitive and emotional person and I tend to feel other peoples pain like it is my own, so I will have to learn how to acknowledge their feelings but remember that they belong to the person I am talking to, not me. (10/19/11)
Kara: I really enjoyed the lesson on empathy today. I have always been confused on the difference between sympathy and empathy, but I learned today that empathy is simply putting yourself in someone elses shoes.I can recall many people in my life who have offered cliches and made me feel like my feelings were unjustified. Now I realise that I was simply wanting some empathy. It was also great to learn what we should be saying to clients after focusing so much on what we should not say. I think that saying "So you feel...." might feel unatural at first but I can definately see how it will help clients to open up. I would still like to know how you politely end the conversation after they have just poured out their heart to you. I am going to try and practice these skills in everyday life to try and make them more natural. (10/19/11)
Friday, 14 October 2011
Learning Activity # 7 - October 14, 2011
Expressing opinion and giving advice are topics we know about. After class discussion on these topics I know............
Ginette: I know that giving an opinion and giving advise are different. When giving an opinion it would be like asking a friend rather than professional advise. I do see how giving advise to a patient would hold you personally liable if that advise turned out not to work or go wrong for the patient. Making sure that the patient is aware that it is your opinion and not professional advise is extremely important. Even when the patient is extremely persistent on getting your advise. Being a receptionist in a doctor’s office people would constantly ask for my advise and I did get in the habit of advising them to see the doctor. Though sometimes having experience in the subject being asked it’s hard not to give advise. We tend to think of giving our advise as being helpful but taken in the wrong context it could be damaging. Knowing that the patient is going to be hanging on every word you say and take it as advise will drive me to be extra clear on what information I’m passing on. (11/01/11)
Sam: After talking about giving advice and expressing ones opinions I believe it helped each person. Everyone expresses their opinions on a daily basis, so when it comes down to actually thinking about how appropriate it may be makes it difficult to wrap your head around it. Even though it is obvious that some advice is better off never given, it may be difficult to hold yourself back from telling someone it. You may find yourself in quite the pickle if you gave a client advice and it turned out to be the wrong advice. This is why you should always say “in my opinion” that way you are not actually telling someone to go do something. A nurse who tells a patient to do all kinds of things can actually confuse a patient more then they may already be. Or a conflict may arise if you express your opinion and the patient disagrees. For your own sake it is best to keep your opinions to yourself, unless asked (10/24/11)
Hazel: At my age I find it difficult to refrain from offering an opinion as I have experienced many events through the years which have concluded in similiar results - forming a very strong opinion on certain aspects of life. I need to practise listening more and watch others draw their own opinion, unless asked. I also need to use the phrase "in my opinion" much more frequently because no one likes a "know it all" (not that I feel that way). I am going to start practising to think before I speak and maybe reply to the question with "what's your opinion" this may be a good way to start. (10/19/11)
Jen: After the class discussion on expressing our opinions and the offering of advice, I realized I have some practicing to do. I am quick on the draw when it comes to offering my suggestions and opinions. And sometimes, I need to refrain from this and only speak up when asked, or when they are expecting an answer. Even when I think my input is helping them, it may be pushing them away. It can instantly be a barrier in the nurse-client relationship, and that would result to a hesitant client who no longer wants to disclose in you. Therefore, I will have to watch my wording, when giving responses to clients. And to learn that sometimes staying silent and letting them talk to me, will be more effective as we are accountable for everything we say. (10/18/11)
Crystal: After the class discussion I know to be careful about how I word things when I am asked for my opinion or for my advice. I have been asked for advice often in my personal life and know that I have not always started out with "In my opinion..." or "In my own experience I have...". I generally tend to simply give my advice - a full account of what I would do if I were in the same situation. Without saying things like "In my opinion..." I know now that, to somebody walking by I might have sounded like I was telling the person what to do. I can see how this will affect my pratice and how it could also affect my clients. I intend to practice my skills on giving advice and/or opinions at every oppurtunity in the future. I wont be held to account with my friends as much as I would be if I went about this the wrong way in practice. "Liability" is a word that comes to mind! (10/18/11)
Lauren: After this class I learned that giving your advice or opinion is a very sensitive area, and although you may think you are doing good, you could actually be causing harm. In nursing, by offering advice to a patient, you could make them feel as though your thoughts are the only route to go, as they are looking at you as a person of authority. You could also make them feel wrong or inferior if silently they were thinking the opposite as you. By giving your opinion, you could undermine their feelings, and if you are too quick to speak up with the "right" answer, you my make them feel like their feelings or concerns are unjustified and unimportant. I think the key to offering opinions or advice is the words you chose to use. I feel it would be better to try and prompt the patient into making up there own mind, instead of speaking yours. (10/18/11)
Alana: Expressing your opinion and giving advice are important tools of communication, if used properly. They can also be dangerous, you can be held accountable or you could possibly offend someone. One thing I need to work on is saying “In my opinion” before giving ANY kind of advice. After watching the video of the nurses using blocking communication skills it was good to see some mistakes that can be made in the nurse/patient relationship. You really have to watch what advise you give because you are 100% accountable for that advise and if something goes wrong, it’s on you. But on another note there are effective ways to express your opinion and giving advice, you just have to be careful when doing so. (10/17/11)
Carrie: I used to work in finance where I was not allowed to give advice, my license didn’t cover it and I could get into a lot of trouble if I did. This is a little different for me, as I am not used to advising, even if it is my own opinion. I will need to remember that phrase when I start my nursing practice, “in my opinion”. Right now, I am not really comfortable with the idea of advising a client, or even expressing my personal opinion. The thought of my attitude influencing how someone might address their own care is daunting. This is something that I will, I’m sure, be more comfortable with over time, but will need to watch the quality of advice and how it is delivered. (10/17/11)
Kara: I had never given much thought to self disclosure before this class. I can see how it could be beneficial or harmful. I like the idea of following the rule that you should not be self-disclosing unless it is for the benefit of the client. I could easily see myself self-disclosing, thinking that by relating to the client I would make them feel more comfortable or that I had a better understanding of what they were going through. I never considered that it would make them feel as though their feelings were unimportant, but after consideration it makes sense. I still feel like I am at a loss for what would be beneficial to say because I think I often rely on cliche's when I don't know what else to say. I am looking forward to the coming classes to learn how to handle these situtations. I also think it was good to emphasize that when you give your opinion you make sure that you are clear that it is only your opinion. I am still very surprised that we are even allowed to give our opinions to clients and I think I would struggle giving my opinion because you could be influencing a major life decision for someone and that scares me. (10/17/11)
Rashpal: Originally I did not think giving your advice to someone would have that big of impact on them. I thought they are asking me because they trust me and believe me because I have some knowledge I this field. Now I underestimated the impact I will be very carefully before giving advice. This class opened my eyes and taught me that if you do end up giving your opinion make sure the client understand that this is clearing your believe and value. Encourage the client to make their own decisions by encouraging autonomy. We can certainly assist in by providing the resources but try to avoid bluntly giving your advice. (10/17/11)
Rashpal : Originally I did not think giving your advice to someone would have that big of impact on them. I thought they are asking me because they trust me and believe me because I have some knowledge I this field. Now I underestimated the impact I will be very carefully before giving advice. This class opened my eyes and taught me that if you do end up giving your opinion make sure the client understand that this is clearing your believe and value. Encourage the client to make their own decisions by encouraging autonomy. We can certainly assist in by providing the resources but try to avoid bluntly giving your advice. (10/17/11)
Rashpal : Originally I did not think giving your advice to someone would have that big of impact on them. I thought they are asking me because they trust me and believe me because I have some knowledge I this field. Now I underestimated the impact I will be very carefully before giving advice. This class opened my eyes and taught me that if you do end up giving your opinion make sure the client understand that this is clearing your believe and value. Encourage the client to make their own decisions by encouraging autonomy. We can certainly assist in by providing the resources but try to avoid bluntly giving your advice. (10/17/11)
Sharalee: Oversharing. One word that I have put into my language bank to guide me through interactions with clients. Sometimes I feel that if I share about my life then the person and I will feel closer. That is not always the case. If the information given does not benefit the client then do not share it. The point is for the client to get better and feel like she can talk to you about anything, not the other way around. It can so easily turn into you becoming the patient and the patient becoming the consoler. Also, when being asked about our opinions make sure to restate that this is clearly only your opinion if you were to be in the situation. Don't try to persuade a client either way because they could end up blaming you down the line if it doesn’t work out. (10/17/11)
Francine: This class opened my eyes to opinions, and how they can be portrayed by the client. I also realized that even though it is hard to want to give an opinion on a topic to help them, it is best to not give your opinion unless asked for. Even then having to restate that it’s strictly just your own personal opinion, I feel that for myself, I would rather just remind them that this is their choice and my opinion doesn’t matter. Coming from a very opinionated family, I’ve learnt that sometimes keeping your opinions to yourself is the best way in helping someone. (10/17/11)
Ellisse: Everybody alway's has something to say, ready to give an opinion, and share their advice or personal experiences that they have gone through. Most of us do this because we are excited to share our opinions and experiences, but more often than not, we forget to just listen. Opinions can be greatly appreciated if asked for or told in an appropriate timing, but if the timing isn't right and opinion is shared it can cause some pretty big damage. I'm now aware that an opinion is best appreciated if someone askes for it, and not to abuse the opinion sharing or the label "know-it-all" might come up. (10/17/11)
Stephanie: Expressing opinion and giving advice will be hard to distinguish when I first get into clinical. For myself, I am very opinionated. I have my views, and I have no issue saying it. For example, if a patient, or another nurse says something I don’t agree with, I’ll find it hard to not say anything. If someone also asks me my opinion, I won’t shy away from saying it, especially if I don’t agree with the person asking it. The same goes for advice. If someone asks me for it, I’m going to say it. In some cases I know this won’t be appropriate, but I have a belief where if you ask for it, I’m going to say it. Sometimes this makes for an issue with people. For example, I’ve lost “friends” over the years for being too opinionated, or not knowing when to “shut up.” For me, I’m not going to change my views for them, but I can work on knowing when it is okay to speak my mind, and I should keep quiet. (10/17/11)
Sarah: After the class discussion on this topic, I now know that we should only give an opinion when the patients ask for it. There is no wrong or right answer when we give our opinion. Our opinion is letting them know what we would do in their situation. We have to always clarify the patients that it is their choice and we are just giving them our opinion and not telling them, they have to do so. Giving advice to a patient can support them making their decision. Sometimes it can be difficult to in some situation to choose what is right with no help, that’s why we can assist them with our advice. We have to pay close attention on what we tell our patient because their decision can be based on that. So as a nurse, we are able to express our own opinion and advice only when asked. (10/16/11)
Amy: After discussing giving advice and expressing your opinion in class I know as nurses what we are aloud to share or tell clients. I wasn’t really aware before the class on ethics as well as this one what our scope of practice allows us to say. Now I understand that we cannot give medical advice to clients and to tell them “You should do this...” is not right because it takes away their freedom to decide on their own. However, if a patient asks you what you would do in their shoes, you are aloud to answer them honestly. The important thing to make clear is that it’s solely your own opinion and the decision is ultimately up to them. Also in some circumstances the client may not want your opinion, so I would only share that if they were asking me directly because otherwise they may lose respect for you as a nurse. (10/16/11)
Warren: Today we talked about expressing opinions and giving advice. I do understand that as a nurse you may have to express your opinion or give advise but I do think a person has to be careful when doing this. It is important that a client can make their own decisions so they don't feel like they have no control. There is a time to give your opinion or advice when a client asks for it or the client's decision may harm themselves but just because they want to do it a different way does not mean it is the wrong way. (10/16/11)
fiki: After class discussion I now know that, as a nurse giving advice for a patient is like telling them what to do and that takes away the clients right to choose. I also believe that giving advice for clients promotes dependency that make them to believe that the nurse know best for them. Some of my classmates mentioned that giving advice is different from giving an opinion. I have to disagree with that. For me giving opinion is no deferent than giving advice. The nurse’s opinion” if I were you, I would …” may lead to a client accepting the nurse’s view since the client is looking for advice. Instead of giving a client our opinion or advice, it is better to give them options. Giving them options help them to see their situation from different angels and help them to make a better informed decision that suits for their situation. (10/16/11)
kali: After discussion in class I know that giving an opinion or advice isn't always necessary, but if the client asks you for your opinion/advice then you can provide that them. I was glad to hear this because as nurses, I figured that with would be something that we would be asked. I think this is something we will have to be careful with depending on the client. If it is something that they don't want to hear you may lose rapport. (10/15/11)
Karin n: After class discussion on this topic I now know that as nurses it is OK to express our opinion when asked. The key being, when asked. It makes sense. In the past, when I have asked someone their opinion and they weren't interested in giving it to me, I would feel very disappointed in that individual. Likewise, if someone offered me their opinion when I wasn't looking for it, I would also be disappointed. I would no longer hold that person in the same regard. It would be the same for us, as nurses, when our clients ask us our opinions. I also learned how we express our opinion is really important. The readings for this class offered some really great ways on how to do this professionally. Giving our professional opinion lends to our credibility as nurses. Giving advice is very different from giving an opinion. Giving advice is taking away from the individuals autonomy. (10/15/11)
Jules: My opinion isn't always necessary. Keep it to myself unless asked for. I was given infinite opinions and ways to deal with situations when I was struggling with a situation, I never asked for an opinion, just wanted to be heard. I know I've made this mistake myself, telling people to do things a certain way because it worked for me, how ignorant of me, assuming that MY way is the best and RIGHT way. I'm working really hard on keeping things of irrelevance to myself and find myself biting my tongue often during class, although I'd LOVE to be heard, and have the chance to stand on a soap-box announcing my great findings- nah, I'd bore everyone. (10/15/11)
Lara: When talking to someone there is a time to talk, listen and sometimes give your opinion. Sometimes a person doesn't want your opinion, all they want is for you to listen to them and hear what they are saying. Sometimes they just want to have a simple conversation with you and just talk and don't want your opinion about everything. When a person asks for your opinion, that is the time to give it or if you feel it is a right time, you can ask them if they want it. But when a person asks you it means you need to be carefull you don't give them the wrong advice and that you make it clear to them that this is your opinion. It doesn't mean you have to let it all out, you can be nice about it, it shouldn't come across as mean or hurtfull, you should never be little a person so they feel poorly about themself, to me that kind of person is not showing caring at all. (10/15/11)
Kristy: I know to pay more attention to people’s body language when talking to them. I actually laughed when I read the textbook because it said how people will turn away from you, or start to play on their phone etc when they don’t want to hear what you have to say. I know that I do this when my mother insists on pushing her opinion on me, and when I read the textbook I had mental pictures of times when I did that with my mom. As for when other people do that when I give my opinion I have no idea if I notice those ‘signals’. I am assuming that I probably don’t, because I am pushy and seem to like to voice what I think. For a few years now my sister has come up with the term ‘filter-less’ for me. When most people think about what they are going to say or possible consequences to saying certain things, they filter what they say to be nice... I don’t do this. I let it all out. Sometimes people need to be told things that they aren’t going to like, and I have no issues telling them those things. So I know I need to watch what comes out of my mouth and spend a little more time with the thinking part before I get myself into trouble. I also know that when someone asks my opinion, I have to make it very clear that it is my opinion on the situation, not necessarily the ‘right thing to do.’ (10/15/11)
kate: there's a fine line between when its appropriate to give your advice/opinion. All to often I think we provide an opinion or advice when its not needed or wanted. which falls upon deaf ears. I tend to go with the rule of thumb I'll wait until I'm asked a question instead of throwing my opinion in when it's not appropriate. Especially in a work setting I think rapport is one of the most important things you can have with your residents but don't want to come off as controlling by always telling people what you think they should do. I would provide a source for a resident to talk to and then if asked only then provide my personal opinion. (10/15/11)
Kimmy: I know that giving your opinion and your own advice is not always wanted. Sometimes all a person wants is for you to listen to them. It’s important that you ask before you give your advice or opinion otherwise the other person may think you’re telling them what to do; and nobody likes being told what to do. From watching the video in class I learned that it can really affect the nurse-client relationship and can act as a barrier to a therapeutic relationship which makes sense because the client may feel as if you’re imposing your thoughts and beliefs on them when all they wanted from you was to listen without judgments or comments. It can also affect the nurse’s credibility if you give the wrong advice, or give an opinion that is not in favour of your client. In other situations giving your opinion or advice can help them make informed decision which is, what we as nurses are responsible for. (10/14/11)
Learning Activity # 6 - October 14, 2011
Communication in the nurse-client relationship is a tool to use in planning and directing care of the client. Communication in all forms is utilized through out our lives and relationships. After class discussion how important is knowing and using communication skills to you?
Ginette: The importance of communication is huge. From what you say to how you say it. Though i do use some of the techniques naturally not every technique is familiar to me. I noticed that I do repeat what people say like a parrot and never realised that it was inappropriate. The nurse, patient and observer was a very good practice for me. Being each of the 3 gave me a little insight to each position. The nurse has to ask the right question and see behaviour to match the situation and recognise if there is something wrong. The patient is not obliged to give out information if not asked. The observer looks for key elements in communication which really makes you aware of how much goes in to communicating properly. The better you become at these skills the more natural it’ll appear. Even having only one of these techniques missing would have a large impact on the willingness of your patient to talk openly and freely to you. (11/01/11)
Sam: After experiencing the activities in class, it really opened my eyes to how easily it is to send out the wrong message. If your body language is obviously not appropriate to the situation or conversation it may make a patient feel as though they are not respected and are being judged. Also with the way we talk, such as tone of voice and eye contact plays a huge role in communication. SOLER is one of the best things for someone to learn, it made me way more aware of the way I may be presenting myself while listening. Every patient deserves a nurse who can listen and make them feel comfortable and with the activities we did in class we all should be aware of how we portray our selves. The activity where the client had to use the washroom was a really good example, I mistook the needing to use the washroom for excitement. Now I pay way more attention to some else’s body language. I now know which skills I need to work on which will help me be a better nurse. (10/24/11)
Hazel: I love asking questions, I think the more questions you ask the more information you can gather and a better understanding is developed between client/nurse. The more information we have, the easier it is to plan for their care and I'm all about making my work easy (in a good way). I would prefer to take the most amount of time assessing my client, as this would only allow for a better plan to be put together and also build a stronger relationship. Practising open ended questions will be on the top of my list along with learning better listening skills. Communication, communication, communication!!! (10/19/11)
Jen: Practicing our communicating in a nurse-patient role is great experience for us. After this class, it has shown me how important it is to develop effective communicating skills, as well as listening skills. As a nurse it will promote trust with our clients, and give them the reassurance that we have heard what they had to say, and have taken it into consideration. I have absorbed many skills, that I will now include in my conversations such as remembering to use the SOLAR acronym, the importance of using open and closed ended questions, and restating and summarizing at the end of a talk. Also, I'm glad I am now aware of the barrier's that can develop within a conversation. As nurses, we will always have to think before we speak and reconsider ourselves, when we are about to give our two cents. Even if we feel like our opinion is best, our input can spoil a relationship, that once may have been very open. (10/18/11)
Crystal: This class was a really good refresher for me and took me back to the "communication skills" course I took a number of years ago. I was reminded about posture, eye contact, verbal and non-verbal communication and many other aspects of communication I had either forgotten or not thought about in awhile. How easy it is to fall into the habit of communication as we see it in others, regardless of what we know! I think the idea of having effective communication is not only dependent on myself, but also on the skills of the person I am communicating with. Good communication skills are very important to me, I think non-verbal more than anything because this is the one that we think about the least and the one that affects me the most. If somebody looks at me the wrong way, I tend to take it personally without considering whether it was meant for me or not. I will definitely be more aware of my own facial experssions in the future! (10/18/11)
Lauren : Communication is a key component to any part of life, whether it be in the working world or in one's personal life. The words you chose and the way you deliver them can either make someone feel comfortable sharing information about themselves or make them close off to you completely. I feel that once the damage has been done in terms of closing lines of communication, it is very hard to reopen them, especially if it is someone like a patient who you do not have a close personal relationship with. This is an other area where knowing cultural differences is important. You make think that your verbal or nonverbal cues are making someone feel comfortable with you, when in fact you could be doing the opposite if your actions have a different meaning in that particular person's culture. I think communication is something that will be a life long learning process where there will always be room for improvement. (10/18/11)
Alana: After this class I got to know the importance of knowing and using communication and the impact it can have on someone. Good communications skills are a necessity to life, especially in the nurse client relationship. Not only does it represent you as a person, it also allows others to interact with you effectively. I really enjoyed the class activities of playing the nurse and client roles and practicing all the aspects of communicating. Using the SOLER aspect is such a helpful guide to letting the person you are talking with know that you are interested, you want to know what they are talking about and you are listening. Something that I had not realized was such an importance is nonverbal communication, all the different things it can indicate, and just how important it is when caring for patients. (10/17/11)
Carrie: I think that using the communication skills that we covered in class is very important. Using the techniques of SOLER, summary, reinstatement and paraphrasing in our communications with our clients will help ensure that we are building a trusting foundation for future communications and that the message that they are saying is not getting lost. Practicing the skills that we covered by doing role playing activities showed me that there are many areas where I can improve. I have always thought myself to be a good communicator, but I didn’t pick up on the non verbal cues that my ‘client’ was displaying. I also need to remember to position myself in an open manner and not sit with my arms crossed as is habit. Hopefully by focusing on these, as well as the other skills, I will improve even more on my communication skills. (10/17/11)
Kara: Communication is an important skill to develop in every relationship in our lives and now in our new profession. Comminication will either help a client feel comfortable and open up or it can make then feel uncomfortable and closed off. Using SOLER is great way to remember what things help effective communication and what things stop it. I found most of the techniques we learned in class I had learned before, but it was great to have a refresher. I often find myself crossing my arms simpoly because I am cold and forget that that action was come off as closed off and uninterested. It was also great to review open and close ended questions and how to use them appropiately depending on what information you are trying to attain. I found the activities to be very helpful and they gave hands on experience to test our communication skills and recognise areas for improvement. It was also nice to just get out of our seats and be able to interact with a variety of classmates. (10/17/11)
Rashpal: This class has taught me lots of new techniques of communication. I am definitely paying more attention to my posture and eye contact. One thing really caught my attention was summarizing the conversation. Having few years of hospital experience I know how easy is to get distracted by other things. Now I understand that what it feels like, when all of sudden you cut off conversation and start something else. Close and open end question will be very helpful to gather the essential information from the client. Understanding the non verbal is also very important and I really enjoy the activity of Halloween dress description. After going through few of the activities in class it is clear that how important communication is to build good relationship with the client and get important information from client to build solid care plan for client. (10/17/11)
Francine: After this class, i realized that communication comes in a variety of forms such as using open and closed ended questions, nonverbals, and also just using SOLER can aid in building a good rapport with the client as well as making them feel comfortable. As nurses we need to use a varitey of forms possible so that we connect and understand the needs and wants of our clients. (10/17/11)
Sharalee: I had thought that I had communicating down to a science but after the class I find that I don't. I am constantly aware that my posture is closed and not open. I seem to drift off into space in the middle of a conversation, thereby missing the point of what was being said. This skill really is basic and it is so relavent to our role as nurses. I think the one that got my attention because no one else really picked up on it was the physical communication. Looking into what is not being said out of the mouth but screamed at from the body language. If we as nurses dont see this than we are not doing our job because not everyone is going to tell us exactly whats going on. I have noticed even in my life outside of school that I have to work on my communication especially my listening skills (10/17/11)
(Anon): I had thought that I had communicating down to a science but after the class I find that I don't. I am constantly aware that my posture is closed and not open. I seem to drift off into space in the middle of a conversation, thereby missing the point of what was being said. This skill really is basic and it is so relavent to our role as nurses. I think the one that got my attention because no one else really picked up on it was the physical communication. Looking into what is not being said out of the mouth but screamed at from the body language. If we as nurses dont see this than we are not doing our job because not everyone is going to tell us exactly whats going on. I have noticed even in my life outside of school that I have to work on my communication especially my listening skills (10/17/11)
Stephanie: Communication is an important part of our daily lives. Up until being in the nursing program, I was unaware of how important it is in the nursing world. Without it, the nurses wouldn’t be able to hear the patients’ needs properly, or be able to implement their needs. I myself have been a victim of lack of communication. Instead of returning my library book, my friend decided to read it herself, but didn’t make that clear. If that were to happen in the nursing world then a patient could receive medical care that was not needed. For example, the use of touch. Without the proper communication the nurse might interpret touch is okay when it is really not. Being in class today I learned how important it is to have communication between the patient, and also other nurses. (10/17/11)
Sarah: Communication is very important. We encounter situations to interact with people whether it is verbal or nonverbal. Communication plays an important role for many professions and especially for nursing. Having great communication skills is very essential to me because every day I communicate with others. In one of the activities that we did, the patient was trying to tell the nurse that they had to go to the washroom but many people didn't realize that. Therefore, when communicating with a patient we should be paying close attention to understand the nonverbal signs they are trying to tell us. When we communicate with others we really have to pay close attention. The way we present ourselves towards others can greatly impact on how the patient communicates with us. The activities we did showed me that I need to work on my communication skills. Overall it is important to demonstrate care towards a patient by using good communication skills so they feel comfortable with us to talk more. Also to be able to summarize of what the patient has just said correctly, to pass it on to other co-workers. (10/16/11)
Amy: Knowing proper communication skills are vitally important in the client-nurse relationship, in order to form a connection and level of trust with your client. By showing positive non-verbal’s, asking open-ended and close-ended questions and summarizing, you show your patient that you are truly listening and attending the conversation. By doing so you help them to feel comfortable and hopefully they will be more willing to give forth information, which will essentially benefit their healing process. Communicating seems like a really simple skill, because we’ve all been practicing it throughout our lives, but after class I found that restating and paraphrasing is something you have to consciously remember to do. It’s not only important to communicate well with patients, but the people you are working with as well. As we found in the game of telephone in class, messages passed along can definitely get diluted or lost. This is another reason communication is so crucial, especially in healthcare settings because you pass on important findings about client’s to other coworkers. (10/16/11)
Warren: To me communication is very important in a nurse client relationship. To be able to effectively care for someone you have to have very good communication skills. Nurses are constantly communicating with different people all the time so if a nurse could not communicate very good, it would be almost impossible to care for a client. i also believe that good communication is a learned skill and something everyone can always get better at. (10/16/11)
fiki: Knowing and using communication skill is very important for nurse- patient relationship. In our previous classes we also have learned the importance of communication between nurses. One of the class activities” the telephone “activity has shown me that even though verbal communication is very important to pass on the message, if it is not supported by a written report "documentation" it always gives room to get miss very important data collected about the patient. (10/16/11)
kali: Communication skills are so important in nursing. I realized that I need some work in that department. It was great to break it down and learn the techniques. We communicate all the time and these new tools will be very beneficial. Practicing and getting evaluated was very helpful. I helped to pin point the areas I need to work on. (10/15/11)
Kain: I most certainly need to work on my communications skills and it is an on going process. They are very important skills to have. I look forward to learning ways to improve my skills and find the subject of communication very fascinating. The exercises we did in class on Friday were a great way for me to see what areas needed improvement. My favourite class so far. I was shocked at how oblivious I was to the non-verbal cues my client was sending me. Having a back ground in sales, I believe that I am more in tune to my own body language and have the ability to check myself, for example uncrossing my arms, maintaining eye contact, etc. I thought I was pretty good at reading others as well, I was proven wrong. Another area of communication I would like to learn more about is in regards to other cultures and how they communicate differently from our own. (10/15/11)
Julie: I know I have to work on my communications skills. I like to think I'm great at communicating, but it's obvious that I can't effectively communicate when things are not done as I'd like to see them accomplished. The one video clip pointed out some of the things that I do- ask 3 different questions at once, I'm sure confusing the recipient, and leaving me frustrated that my questions weren't asked. During our exercise- role playing, it was interesting to hear the feedback from the "observer", who pointed out some positive, and the not so positives. I need to work on my paraphrasing techniques, and will try to paraphrase this weekend. (10/15/11)
Julie: I know I have to work on my communications skills. I like to think I'm great at communicating, but it's obvious that I can't effectively communicate when things are not done as I'd like to see them accomplished. The one video clip pointed out some of the things that I do- ask 3 different questions at once, I'm sure confusing the recipient, and leaving me frustrated that my questions weren't asked. During our exercise- role playing, it was interesting to hear the feedback from the "observer", who pointed out some positive, and the not so positives. I need to work on my paraphrasing techniques, and will try to paraphrase this weekend. (10/15/11)
Lara: Communication is so important to me. It's not only what you say, or how you say it, it's also all in your body language. I feel that what comes out of a persons mouth can do a lot of damage and really hurt someone, or it can do a lot of good and really help them think better about themselves. I think that we need to think about this when we communicate with others. The activities yesterday showed a good example of showing good body language and showing poor body language. I was one of the people that had to show good and bad, and when we had to switch to bad body language I found it so difficult, I also felt so rude. It also made me really aware of it, and that I will personally think about it a little more in the future. The telephone game was also a good example of commuincation during report as a nurse, and how we have to pay attention to all the little details, and pass them along. (10/15/11)
Kristy: I know that I definitely struggle with the communication part of life. I was raised in a home that didn’t teach the communication part very well, mainly my mother. I’ve grown up to be very similar to her; open with my opinion on most things with no mind to the possible consequence. I know that I need to pay close mind to what I say and how I say it, especially now that I am headed towards the nursing career. As for getting better skills I’m not really sure how to go about getting them, or really practicing them. If the classmates knew me before they met me in the program they would realize how reserved I keep myself in the classroom. I need to watch my facial expressions and body posture more too, and definitely my tone, been struggling with that problem my entire life too. Communication is important in all aspects of life, so I guess I should start working on them sooner than later so I can be the best nurse I can be. (10/15/11)
kate: I've worked in a facility where there was little to no communication. Reports were not done at the end of a shift nor were there any sort of documentation for any incidents that had occurred. In the end it was the residents who always paid the price for this lack of communication. It wasn't until I left that job and went on to a newer seniors home that I realized how much was lacking. I know had the time to sit and talk to residents to find out how they were doing. Communication is the key to gaining rapport with people and if you don't take the time to sit and hear what people have to say how can you be expected to know them. (10/15/11)
Ellisse: Communication skills are so very important to me. I just wrote - as we all did - an essay about how communication affects our ability to care, and what I'm learning is that it can make or break a relationship. This seems pretty common sense to some people for sure, but I feel like maybe communication can be taken for granted sometimes, or just fall out of touch with our surroundings. I have two friends back home who have helped me along my little journey to get me to where I am today. One friend helped me to realize that caring is contagious, because I caught it from her. Loving kindness comes naturally to her always helping people and thinking of the small things, and soon I found myself doing certain small caring gestures that I wouldn't have normally thought of. It's funny but I feel that those "small" gestures after a while really become "huge" gestures in the long as they start a chain reaction that's bigger than ourselves. I wasn't always the greatest communicator or listener, I never used to talk much in fear of sounding stupid - until one day my other great friend told me that the way he communicates is by observing the actions of others as he believes it's the actions that speak louder than words, and he's not wrong. So I figured if he can tell what I'm going through by my actions then I might as well face the "danger" of speaking - it's not that scary by the way! :) - and figure out the communication thing! Since then I'm more aware of my communication skills and try not to take them for granted. As I started to become more "present" in conversations I've started to notice that friendships improve and general all around health has improved. The point is caring starts with communication which starts chain reactions which is bigger than anyone of you or I. (10/14/11)
Kimmy...: Oopsies. . . I wrote the other comment in the wrong box! . . .For me to be able to know and use communication skills is very important not only as a practical nurse but as a human being! If we didn’t have the skills or knowledge about communicating with our clients we wouldn’t be able to give help effectively and/or nothing would be possible in the planning or directing care of the client. My favourite part of today’s activities was learning this by playing the nurse and being assessed; it gave me a better understanding of the areas in communicating that I need to improve on  The telephone game shows that if you don’t use your communication skills you will be missing some key details in assessment. Another thing that I learned today was to ask open ended questions that and to avoid using ‘why’ as a prompt to your question because the other person may feel as if your interrogating them. (10/14/11)
Kimmy: I know that giving your opinion and your own advice is not always wanted. Sometimes all a person wants is for you to listen to them. It’s important that you ask before you give your advice or opinion otherwise the other person may think you’re telling them what to do; and nobody likes being told what to do. From watching the video in class I learned that it can really affect the nurse-client relationship and can act as a barrier to a therapeutic relationship which makes sense because the client may feel as if you’re imposing your thoughts and beliefs on them when all they wanted from you was to listen without judgments or comments. It can also affect the nurse’s credibility if you give the wrong advice, or give an opinion that is not in favour of your client. In other situations giving your opinion or advice can help them make informed decision which is, what we as nurses are responsible for. (10/14/11)
Monday, 03 October 2011
Learning Activity - # 5
Caring is what allows one individual to understand and act on the concerns and issues of another. A caring act is an expression of regard for the basic value and dignity of another person. The Practical Nursing Program is based on human caring. As a student nurse, what thoughts or feelings about caring have you experienced following this class discussion and activity?
Dave: After the activity performed during this class, it became apparent to me that there is a lot more to caring than just changing bandages and administering medication. Caring involves paying attention to all of the patient’s needs. Sure the bandages and medications need to be dealt with, but there is also the matter of dealing with the patient’s peace of mind. Knowing that they are being cared for by someone who cares ABOUT, not just FOR them will definitely go a long ways towards them making a speedy recovery. Easing the peace of mind of the patient will reduce the amount of stress they are experiencing, allow them to put away any guards and leave them in a relaxed, vulnerable state which will greatly facilitate healing process. This is something that could prove to be more of a process than a simple exercise, as most people have spent a great deal of their lives building their mental defenses, always being told to be wary of strangers, people are out to get you, and all of the other frightening messages pumped to us through the media. These are completely normal defense mechanisms which keep us safe, based on our most primal instincts, and it is our duty as nurses to overcome these mechanisms, win the trust of our patients, and keep them in a physical, mental and spiritual state most conducive to healing. (10/13/11)
Warren: REPLY to CRYSTAL.I can't help but comment on your post. I can completely understand and agree with your post. Sometimes in the hospital all the patient has when it come to contact with other people is the nurses. Whether the nurse shows compassion and caring or shows nothing at all, this has a dramatic effect on the healing process of the patient. (10/10/11)
Kimmy: I really enjoyed this learning activity and thought it was the best human relationships class so far. What a great way to show what caring is and what caring isn’t. From the articles read in class about caring and the patients experience I learned that it takes seconds to make a caring gesture and is an infectious gesture, but over time it seems as if nurses forget the important lesson of nursing and how it can impact the health of a patient. There’s nothing wrong with caring for a patient but too much caring can be inappropriate as well. As the person leading the blindfolded person I realized that I wouldn’t want to be treated without dignity and respect, so why should I treat anyone else like that. All it would take is a few seconds to explain and relieve the anxiety and make someone’s healing process that much easier. (10/10/11)
Crystal: Because this blog is open to comments, I felt as though I HAD to comment on a previous post. @ KRISTY: Regarding your comment "Caring is important in nursing, but people aren’t in the hospital to get massages and love from nurses, they are there to get better, and nurses are there to work and do their job". I cant help but wonder if you have ever been a patient in a hospital left to rely on a nurse for personal care? I have...and I would have given anything to have more of the nurses treat me like a human being rather than a patient. You're right - I wasnt there to get a message or love from the nurses, but had they shown me a bit more love I surely would not have felt confused, angry and as though my dignity had been stripped. When I take my dog to the vet, I expect that they will treat her with love & care to ease her anxiety. When I take my dog to the groomer to have her nails clipped, I expect that they will treat her with love & care to make her feel more comfortable...and it is upsetting to me when they dont. Why should we expect any less of the nurses that are taking care of human beings? Patients in the hospital are vulnerable. They are relying on nurses to care for them and many people, especially adults, have not had to rely on anybody else for such things - especially a stanger! Nurses are not there to simply hand out meds to patients until they are well enough to go home. Patients are PEOPLE and deserve to be treated with the same level of dignity, respect and caring as we would expect would be given our family members in the same situation. (10/09/11)
Ginette: After the exercise of being blindfolded and lead around the college I had a greater understanding of how important verbal and non verbal communication and the difference in caring. I realised that it was something that I did naturally in my past. I was one of the only ones who would explain exactly what I was about to do before doing it. Being blindfolded caused a lot of anxiety and fear. Something I hadn’t considered from the patient’s point of view. Having to be obedient to the person leading me without having any instruction or guidance is an experience wont have my patients go through. I had not realised how many ways in which caring could be shown or perceived. Also having to suck it up if a patient has a horrible odour will not be an easy task. I show my emotions and feelings on my face, but understanding the point of view of the patient gives control a whole new meaning. (10/05/11)
Warren: Caring to me can be very easy to do and easy to forget about. Caring is the most important part os being a nurse to me because without that you can not possibly help the patient. As a former patient I know exactly what can happen when a nurse shows "caring". I would have never made it through in the burn unit during the SARS outbreak in Toronto without the nurses truly caring for me. During that time I was unable to have any visitors so my only contact with people were the nurses. The nurses that took good care of me have had such a great effect on my life and I hope I can do the same for someone else one day. (10/05/11)
Sarah: Caring for someone can be a part of everyday life. It is as easy as opening a door for someone or carrying someone’s books. The exercise we did in class by having some people blind folded and others helping them around, demonstrated how caring for someone is very important. To be a great nurse; giving care is a huge accept of it. When giving care, a nurse should inform the patient of what you are doing to them. If the nurse doesn’t communicate, the patient will be confessed and frustrated. Using communication is helpful when giving care. As a nurse when we are giving care we should just think as if we were in that position, how would we want to be treated? Nurses have to give care even if they don’t like the person they are providing care for. Nurses shouldn’t go overboard with the care they give with patients because that can lead to conflicts. Caring will have to develop over time. After this class my thoughts about caring has expanded. (10/05/11)
Rashpal : I agree with some of my classmates that this class is definitely becoming our favorite. Blind folding act was very effective, I learned that how blind folded person was scared and nervous, and I felt very rude and uncomfortable doing this act to them. This act definitely will stay with me forever. I learned that before providing nursing care, open communication is the key, explain what you are doing. Now I also understand that there will be barriers that we need to be aware off. These barriers could be language, beliefs and cultural. Open communication helps to build trust and connection between nurse and client. It would help us to communicate more effectively with other team members. Caring helps to fasten the healing process. I loved the statement that caring is contagious. Also caring does not have to be big act of looking after someone in hospital, this should be adapted as a part everyone’s daily life. Small act of caring can leave big impact on others and on society as whole. After learning about caring, I am looking forward to be working as nurse, and be able to help people heal. (10/05/11)
Francine: My thoughts and feelings on caring have definitely motivated me to want to be a more caring person in my everyday life as well as in my nursing profession. By doing that experiment of walking around someone in class blindfolded around the CNC premises.This has definitely opened my eyes to making sure others don't just get the non-verbal communication from me, but that they receive the full verbal communication and get a clear understanding. It's a reminder how just talking with your patient or client for even a minute, that it can make a significant impact on the care you provide them.This helped me, because it's not just a verbal reminder for me but as well as a visual reminder, that i need to make sure to communicate effectively with those I'm caring for. As well i will be wearing my bracelet all week, to remind my self that even little things such has making a friend laugh when they are down, is also a way of caring. I really enjoyed this activity, and look forward to more activities like this in the near future. (10/04/11)
Jen: In the helping profession, we should all possess the love to care, since it is a huge requirement for everyday work. It is a large part of nursing and can make a significant difference in the healing process. Additionally, caring is a large part of everyday life. We should treat everyone with the care they deserve and protect and provide for the people we surround ourselves with. After the demonstration in class, I realized how much safer and protected I felt when I knew someone was caring for me. Even when our leader was not being vocal, I still felt tended too. It is very important to consider our patients' and provide for them, so they feel safe and well accommodated for. After the discussion on the barriers of caring , it all became much more clear to me about how important it is to keep things on a professional level, while still remaining devoted, and sympathetic towards a client. The act of caring can go a long way and how we care for the patient will determine our success as a good nurse. (10/04/11)
Sharalee: This class is soon becoming one of my favourites to attend because what we are learning is what I want to apply to my nursing career after this. The thing I took most from this class is that caring doesn't just start as soon as you enter the hospital and only to clients. Its not something that can be fake or forced. Clients and people in general are pretty perceptive when you are faking the care or the kindness you show them. It has to be genuine and it starts when you use it in every day life and it becomes part of who you are without you noticing. With the blindfold activity, I was almost shocked when we were doing the second round and we were able to chat and take my mind off of what was happening. In the middle of it I actually forgot that I was blindfolded because we were gabbing. I will definitely take that with me when I am giving care to clients, make them feel like I want to be there with them and find it a joy to take care of them. (10/04/11)
Sharalee: This class is soon becoming one of my favourites to attend because what we are learning is what I want to apply to my nursing career after this. The thing I took most from this class is that caring doesn't just start as soon as you enter the hospital and only to clients. Its not something that can be fake or forced. Clients and people in general are pretty perceptive when you are faking the care or the kindness you show them. It has to be genuine and it starts when you use it in every day life and it becomes part of who you are without you noticing. With the blindfold activity, I was almost shocked when we were doing the second round and we were able to chat and take my mind off of what was happening. In the middle of it I actually forgot that I was blindfolded because we were gabbing. I will definitely take that with me when I am giving care to clients, make them feel like I want to be there with them and find it a joy to take care of them. (10/04/11)
Hazel: The class activity of being blindfolded and not knowing what was going to happen next left me with a feeling of insecurity and powerless. I didn't like those feelings of having to depend on someone else to guide me and I really didn't like it when there was no communication between the guider and myself. When we were able to communicate then I felt more at ease and safer. The activity really brought home how important it is to communicate what you are doing with a patient and why you are doing it. I will remember this activity when I begin my nursing practise because its all about caring for the patient and good communication is the key to achieving this. (10/04/11)
Kristy: The being blindfolded activity definitely worked for me, getting a hands-on experience of being treated like nothing, to then being cared for and talked to through my journey around CNC. I know that nurses need to care about their patients, but I find it silly the way that it gets portrayed in class. Not every patient is going to touch my heart and make my day wonderful. Not every patient is going to want you to chat with them; some people really prefer to be left alone. A smile is good, great actually, but the touching thing seemed stupid. You are not supposed to hug a patient, the patient could very easily hurt you, choke you, do lots of things. Now sure, most patients won’t do that, but that isn’t the point, it is a possibility, but then again, just because someone says they are clean doesn’t mean you should not wear a condom. Caring is important in nursing, but people aren’t in the hospital to get massages and love from nurses, they are there to get better, and nurses are there to work and do their job. As for the calm happy voice thing, that is fairly easy, and surely very rewarding when it comes to patient cooperation etc. (10/04/11)
Lauren : After the class discussion, and especially after the activity, I feel a lot more knowledgeable about the act of caring. Being led around the campus blind folded and not knowing who was leading me or being told any directions was truly scary. Although I was still unable to see on the second blindfolded tour, knowing who was leading me and being verbally guided took the fear out of the situation. This made me really realize how scary it would be for a patient to have someone come and start hooking up machines, poking them with needles and moving them around without any verbal communication. It also taught me how much a kind voice and gentle touch can do to decrease a person's anxiety level, even without having any visual cues. I will definitely remember this activity when I go out into the field. (10/04/11)
fiki: From the discussion and activates we had in class, one thing stands out for me was the word “trust”. In leading blind folded person activity, most of blind folded partners mentioned that the experience was terrifying that not knowing where they were going to be taken and having no power and control on the situation they were in. They were vulnerable, their safety were in the hands of their partners. What made them through this terrifying experience were the trust they had on their partners that they knew in the back of their mind that they were going to be ok. I believe that trust has a crucial role in establishing an effective nurse- patient relationship and a good nurse patient relationship is important to enhance the patient’s well-being. In the discussion, Jacquie mentioned that as a nurse we have a power position in the eye of vulnerable people who seek our help, support and love and she also added that we have to make sure not to over use or misuse that trust power on vulnerable people. Nurses are there for their patients to give comfort, support, love, care…, not to look down on them. (10/04/11)
Alana: Caring is such an important part of life, it shapes nursing care and not only in nursing, it is a quality that is needed for life in general. After today’s class I learned how much of a difference that care really makes. After being blindfolded and led around without direction I felt helpless and very embarrassed but after being led with direction and support I felt much for safe and much more cared for. I was really surprised by the difference in my anxiety levels as I was just simply walking. In the nursing environment, when you don’t have care or practice care you do not show the patients the respect or environment that they should be feeling. If everyone cared and expressed caring on a daily basis, multiple times a day not only would fewer conflicts occur but a large sense of respect is shown, making for a much better environment. (10/03/11)
Stephanie: For myself, it seems to be a part of our human nature to care for others. While some are more compassionate than others, it is still necessary to show some to every patient we encounter. For me, it will be hard to show compassion to the patients who I don’t agree with. For example, murders, and rapists. While I will show as much compassion as I humanly can, it will be less than the person who’s suffering from cancer. After doing the activity today, I think it is only natural for us as student nurses to show the same compassion and caring as the leaders did today. If we nurses even act half as compassionate as they did today, we will be going a long way to being not only better nurses, but better nurses as well. (10/03/11)
Karin : I believe as humans we have a desire to feel connected. One of the ways we achieve this connection is in the act of caring. Simple acts of caring can make a huge impact on people, families, communities and the world. Giving someone your smile is a great way to begin. Smiling is universal. It is understood by all. As Dale Carnegie put it, " A smile costs nothing, but creates much". I will try to smile more. A gentle touch, a kind word, a listening ear, these also cost nothing and create much. Today we discussed how these caring acts can improve our relationships with our clients and co-workers. I think for most of us this was something that we were aware of based on how we like to be treated. I really enjoyed the discussion on caring too much, how caring too much can interfere with your ability to do your job well and how it can be perceived by others as perhaps favouring. It gave me something to think about. As nurses we have to be caring and professional at the same time. (10/03/11)
Julie: During our class discussion today, a classmate stated how she's in a room with good people, how nice of her! Was such a positive thing to say, and made me to try to be a bit more on that side of the spectrum. Our exercise, what a test in patience. I wanted to follow instructions, and found it really hard to not guide my blindfolded partner. Naturally we(I) want to protect each other from the harms of the world, almost babying someone who is incapable, and so, not being able to tell Hazel to lift her foot, or shuffle to the left, made me feel really stern, reminding me of an angry mom dragging her child along. The second part of the exercise I did my best to be as descriptive and calming as possible to her, and softly guide her with the reassuarance that I wouldn't let her trip, fall, or run into anything. Then the newspaper clipping that Bev read, how caring spreads, and then the thoughtful beads/bracelets she purchased for us, how incredibly generous, makes me think how something as small as the bracelets can remind me to be genuinely caring daily. (10/03/11)
Lara: Caring is what makes a nurse a great nurse. I believe that it really can't be taught in class, it should just come naturally from the heart. I think that if we were to put ourselves in our patients or thier families position more often we would think of maybe how they were feeling, and maybe we would think of our actions a little more. I couldn't imagine laying sick in my hospital bed and being scared to ring my call bell, fearfull that I might make them mad at me. Or a family member afraid to ask the nurse about an update on thier loved one. I do not want to be like that, I want to be a caring and gentle nurse. I not only think that caring has to only happen as a nurse or student nurse, we should all make this a part of our everyday lives. Maybe we should think of what we could do in our day to help someone out or make someone smile. We should all aim to have our braclets moved from our left arm to our right arm by early in the day. (10/03/11)
kali: After the discussion and excercise in class today I realized how important it is to communicate. As I was one of the blindfolded people I was feeling a little anxious. It is very easy to now know what a patient would feel like if they were to be moved, touched and so on without any warning or information as to what is happening. It would be so rude to do this to someone. Caring is so much more than just communication though. Caring doesn't have to be a grand act of kindness, it could simply be paying someone a compliment and boosting their spirits. These small gestures can go a long way. I hope this is something that we are always aware of, which is why the bracelets were such a great idea. (10/03/11)
Crystal: The classroom excercise today really made me realize how important nonverbal communication is, especially when dealing with vulnerable people. I feel like I have always been aware that communication is key in expressing care and have always thought about visual factors when thinking about how I can express care to others. Today made me consider the barriers that exist in showing caring and emphasized how important it is to learn nonverbal communication skills in order to really be able to express caring to patients where visual cues may not be recognized. (10/03/11)
Carrie: The caring discussions that we participated in today were very enlightening. We are all focusing on being caring nurses in regards to dealing with our patients. The one thing that I haven’t really thought about is caring too much. I have previously only really considered the emotional toll of caring too much for my patients in terms of becoming too attached if they are to pass away. I have never really considered the “Amber Alerts” that were pointed out in class. The thought of inappropriate caring is not something that I have really considered. I think that this is a point that defiantly needs to be made, especially in the student setting, as I think a lot of people might not have reflected on this topic previously. With it being something to keep in the back of my mind, I think it might help draw a line or keep an eye on to help maintain a caring, yet professional, image. (10/03/11)
Kara: Caring is the essence of great nursing. Caring needs to come from the heart, if it does not then it is not truely caring. Caring is not something thst is tangible or can be measured but it most certainly can be felt. We have all had someone care about us and someone who has not cared about us and know how it makes us feel. I think if we continually ask ourselves "If I was that patient, how would this make me feel" then we will always be in the right mind set to deliver care. The art of caring means nurses needs to be genuine in their actions, thus nurses need to be genuine carers. I think the challenge will be to show equal caring to all people, even those that may offend your personal values. I like the saying that you can care for the person even if you dont care for their actions and I think that the nurse that can accomplish this will show care in every interaction. (10/03/11)
Ellisse: Caring is something that can't be taught by sitting in a classroom or by reading a text book it's much more that! It can be taught by example though, just by opening a door or letting someone go first in line at the grocery store can influence someone else to want to show the same kind of care. Today's exercise made me very aware that communication is key to give proper care as well as other qualities such as patience and touch. When it comes right down to it, it's the quality of our care that will make an impact on our patients not how much knowledge we possess. The bracelets that Bev introduced today was a great idea! I've decided to turn it into a challenge for the week. Each morning I'll wear the bracelet on my left hand until I can show a caring act then I'll change it to the right. (10/03/11)
Amy: Caring is an important quality that not only as nurses we should practice, but it’s something that as people we should instil. We all have people in our lives that we love or care for but as nurses we have to care for many people who we don’t know. The idea of holistic healing is that a person’s wellbeing includes their body, mind, and spirit and I think having nurses that show a level of caring, warmth and kindness could really make a difference in a client’s mental or emotional state while in the process of healing. As we talked about in class people in the hospital or a care setting are vulnerable, just like our blindfolded classmates were today. I can imagine that when you are feeling vulnerable and not well the last thing you’d want is a nurse who is aggressive, rude, rough, and uninterested in you. So as a nurse I most definitely want to be the opposite of those qualities to help client’s feel as comfortable as possible. (10/03/11)
Sam: Caring is a huge part in everyone’s lives. Everyone yearns for some compassion and someone to actually care. After doing the activity with the blind folds it really made me understand how important caring is, especially in the nursing field. If you treat a patient with absolutely no care they are not going to enjoy themselves and may feel afraid of what is happening. They are going to feel like the person with the blind fold on unknowing what is happening to them. Talk to your patients and walk them through what is happening with even an ounce of care and everyone will find it more pleasurable and more positive. I do not know how someone can not care about another person. Its so cold hearted when not only nurses but ordinary everyday people do not give a hoot about another. Bev had said in class that caring is contagious, I 100% agree with her. When someone sees the way people react to caring they want that reaction also. It makes everyone feel better about themselves after doing even a small gesture of caring, such as holding the door open for a complete stranger. Every person should try to do at least one caring act a day and see how they feel. (10/03/11)
kate: I truly believe that caring is not something that can be taught. We can always improve on our level of caring but to be a great nurse I think this extra ability of caring is something that is in your DNA. When I think back to what I learned from the LPN's I worked with, the ones that stand out in my mind weren't ones that had an answer for every medical question or diagnosis they were the ones that were able to think outside the box in terms of caring. They were the ones who went above the call of duty putting the resident before anything else. I constantly try to improve my level of caring because I think that is what makes or breaks a nurse! (10/03/11)
Profile
- Name: : Bev Larsen
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Bev Larsen RN Instructor for Practical Nursing Program of CNC. Contact phone (250) 562-2131 local 5345 Email larsenb@cnc.bc.ca
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Hazel: I really enjoyed all the hands on activities that allowed us to actually feel what it is like to have certain disabilities - the best way to understand someone's situation in my opinion. The group sessions and role playing was also an important part of learning because we actually got to play the part of being the nurse and then getting feedback from our peers. All in all I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot. (11/22/11)
Hazel: I really enjoyed all the hands on activities that allowed us to actually feel what it is like to have certain disabilities - the best way to understand someone's situation in my opinion. The group sessions and role playing was also an important part of learning because we actually got to play the part of being the nurse and then getting feedback from our peers. All in all I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot. (11/22/11)
Warren: I enjoyed learning things on this course and learned a lot. My favourite part that I learned was how important it was for giving feedback. I also enjoyed re larding how to show empathy and communicate better with people. The only part I did not enjoy was falling down the stairs (if anyone remembers). Actually it was not that bad of a lesson. (11/21/11)
Rashpal: I enjoyed this course so much. It was so much fun and I thought going through acting activities were the best. It actually provided opportunity for students to feel how others person would feel if they are not treated with respect and dignity. What careless or negligence feels like. Most skills that I will use would be communication questions. How to ask open end questions and what is the impact of impact of closed ended questions. Using silence when talking to my patients and including some small talks while caring for my patients. How to care for a person and taking extra few seconds to listen to someone how it could make a huge difference in therapeutic relationship. I will use the skill of receiving feedback. I will prepare myself to receive the feedback and I will identify areas that I need improvement on. Understanding of group formation will be helpful in the working relationships at work. I feel understanding of how to confront a coworker or patient if needed will be helpful. I will use the skill of assertiveness if there are confrontational moments. I feel this course was excellent to prepare me for the real world it thought me how to interact, care and create therapeutic relationship with patients and create professional relationship with coworkers. (11/21/11)
Amy: I've really enjoyed doing Human Relationships this semester, because the skills and information we learned is really relevant to what we'll be doing as nurses. I liked it because it wasn't something that we had to memorize and recite and forget, it’s knowledge that you put into action everyday like communication skills. Also the group work and activites we did in class were really great, and helped to make the day more fun when we were falling asleep. Blogging has been kind of nice, and I think it’s helped me to make my journaling skills better so that I can keep journalling in clinical and throughout my career as well. I’ll miss this class, and I really value what I’ve learned, without this class I don’t think I’d be able to communicate with clients as effectively or comfortably. (11/21/11)
Ginette: I have to say this course definitely made me think about many different styles in which I communicate. I now think about the way in which I talk. Working and understanding how groups are formed and how they communicate different languages. Knowing the ways in which to communicate with patients really gave me help in situations such as confrontations. This course has given me a lot of skills that I can take with me not only in my profession but also in my personal life. I will take everything I’ve learned with me. I think what I enjoyed most was assertiveness, self talk and confrontations. It’s because that’s the information I needed the most. This course was one of my favourites because it incorporated all the different styles of learning. We played games and did group activities. (11/20/11)
Jen: Just like most of the other responses, I can completely agree by saying that this class was my favourite. I have gained so much from it, and it truly has changed me. The way I talk to people and how I have conversations, is so much more different and developed. Without thinking, I perform many of the skills that were taught in class; that is very valuable to me. This class and everything taught in it has made me more approachable towards others. As a nurse, that is very important. I now have so many techniques under my belt, that I can demonstrate and implement during clinical and work, and do it all in a professional manner. Thank-You Bev for all your hard work and time you put into the class. I found all of the lessons and hands-on work to eb very valuable, and always exciting. Since this class teaches us stuff for everyday life and doesn't just relate to work and nursing, I always looked forward to it because I knew I would leave the class with new skills that I could put to use right away. Some being, solar, closed and open ended questions, active listening, caring, empathy, and the importance of a good nurse-client relationship. I have nothing negative to say about this class, it was an excellent experience. (11/19/11)
kali: When we first started this class I wasn't really sure how much I was going to like it. I am so grateful to say now, looking back at it, that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I learned a lot of simple techniques that can really go a long way. I notice myself using SOLER all the time, and it really works. I'm not much of a blogger so I struggled with this part of it, but in the long run I guess I have come a long way. As you can tell this is longer than just a couple of sentences :) I really liked that we were up out of our seats in this class. It made it much more enjoyable. I hope that we have more classes like this. Thanks Bev, I know that the skills I have acquired will make me not just a good nurse, but a better person. (11/19/11)
Sarah: I enjoyed the Human Relationship class a lot and this class was one of my favorite classes this semester. In class we did many exercises hands on and verbal, which I felt I learned more from, than just reading about it. I’ve learned many different skills in this class that will benefit me in my future career and every day. Plus I got a lot of experience working in a group which I enjoyed because in some cases while working, I will have to be a part of a team. I have learned the term SOLAR when communicating with someone. Now every time I am talking with someone I think about that term. Also the term CARE for confrontation will really help me when I need to confront someone. Overall this course really enlightened me about all the different important aspects of communicating, caring and much more that I will always use in the future. (11/19/11)
Kara: I would have to say my very favorite part of this class was learning about self-talk. I have been so surprised to learn how much this actually affects so many areas in my life. It has helped me so much to be able to identify whether my self talk in negative or positive and to find the situtations in which I tend to negative self talk. Once I was able to identify the situtation in which i tend to negative self talk I was able to make a concious decision to stop and change it to positive self talk. I also enjoyed all the teaching on communication. The activities we did really helped in understanding the concepts, as you could easily see what works and what doesnt. Thanks Bev for always trying to incorporate activities to get us up out of our chair. They so helped me understand and remember the topics, and they were fun! Overall, I really enjoyed this class! (11/19/11)
Kimmy: Human Relationships class was a blast! Whether it was watching entertaining movies to get a message across, or doing hands on activities, and having open discussions, I feel that my communications skills have definitely improved. These may seem like basic things that we already knew, but seeing how these skills are not met in the workplace make you realize that you don’t want to be that person that can’t communicate effectively but rather to try and improve yourself. It opened my eyes as to how using effective communication skills can have favourable outcomes for you and for the client. If you aren’t able to empathize you may come across as uncaring, and if you don’t use assertiveness you won’t be able to convince your client what would be the best option for their wellbeing, and also showing that you care is a BIG part of nursing as a whole, so if you don’t have these skills this career can become really difficult. If we hadn’t practiced SOLER or attentive listening skills in groups I wouldn’t be as comfortable as I am now with my communication abilities. Communication is a 2 way street, as a sender have to put in the effort to get a message across for it to be received and for a response by the receiver. In the road ahead we may have barriers or difficulty in communicating with others, but by being able to some of the things we learned such as recognizing verbal and non verbal cues, using different resources such as translating, and asking questions will make the process easier now that we have become experts at these skills. (11/18/11)
Francine: I actually really enjoyed this course. In the beginning i was a little reluctant as to why I was relearning things i already knew, but turns out it wasn't things that i already knew! I think that's why i liked the course so much because it totally proved me wrong and showed me a lot of skills that are useful, not just in my nursing career but just in everyday life talking to people. My most favorite skills that I learned was observing the non-verbals of someone as well as using SOLER with my peers. I think being able to have learned those 2 important skills is beneficial to me in so many ways. I also liked this class because I knew some days that we would be getting up and moving around and not just sitting for 4hours or so. Great class! (11/15/11)
Dave: Reflecting on this course, which has been my favourite so far, I have learned a lot of skills, but the one I find myself using most often is SOLER, I find myself using this skill every day and have managed to integrate it into my every day behaviour. Another one I love to use is the CARE tactic for confrontation. I find that if I find myself in confrontation I can become quite emotional, and this in turn makes me make rash decisions. If I plan out my confrontation and take my time to prepare my words I find it takes the rising temper out of the equation allowing for reasonable interaction and a much more positive outcome. Another one of my favourites is the stages of group development. I can see this working in situations every day. Usually it happens in groups of two, but the dynamics are the same. (11/15/11)
Alana: I really enjoyed this Human Relationships class. It has taught me all sorts of effective strategies of communication in the nursing world. I think this class is an important one because communication is so important for nurses, between the nurse to nurse relationship and the nurse to patient relationship. What really made this course stand out was the hands-on activities. I will never forget being led around the school blindfolded and how much it opened my eyes to see just how much of a difference the use of proper communication makes. Another thing that I enjoyed about this class was from all the practice, you get to take a look at some things you need to improve on and which ones you are comfortable and strong with. (11/15/11)
Julie: This class was probably one of my most favourable ones. The skill I enjoyed learning about the most was SOLER, it's something we all do, but to practice it while participating in outside of the classroom really enhances or I seemed to pick up more on the people who were willing to conversed and those who's body language said something completely different. Another think I enjoyed about this class was all the hands on participation, the role playing, and feedback received from these little skits. I like how we interacted with the whole classroom, got to practice skills with different classmates. The most memorable moment was probably when we had to lead our blindfolded classmate around the school without saying a single thing, and then followed with the same exercise, this time communication was allowed. (11/15/11)
Stephanie: If I could chose a favourite course thus far this would be the course. I know that seems like a response of someone who is trying to be a suck up, but it’s really true! Overall the course has shown me how things will be in the nursing world. The activities we’ve done has prepared me the most for what I’m going to go through in the coming months. I’ve also liked all the group work we’ve done. It’s going to help me in the long run when I start working with groups on a daily basis. Finally, I’ve loved coming to class on days we have human relationships. It’s been a class where I’m not just thrown theory, and expected to memorize it but we get to practice that theory by doing the daily activities. I’ve also got to know my classmates really well over the past 4 months and I love that! (11/15/11)
Ellisse: HR was a great course! It was so enjoyable and fun, and I didn't think I would take away so much from it. I thought this course couldn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I was wrong because I learned so much and I feel like my communication skills have improved, not just verbal communication but non-verbals also. One skill I've really enjoyed using is clarifying with paraphrasing, and such. I started to use this more in conversations and noticed that when I do this people will talk more and elaborate on whatever they are talking about. It's been interesting trying out what I learn from class in real life situations. In a way this class has reminded me not to take the little things for granted. We use communication everyday, but if we start to loose touch, we quickly notice how something as "simple" as communication can be so important. (11/13/11)
Sam: This course was my favourite of the first semester. I really enjoyed all of the different activities we have done. Everything we learned was made fun by hands on activities. The care activity was my favourite, it was fun to see how the difference was between someone being able to guide you along or someone who just drags you along while your blindfolded. These activities we did in class I believe really helped open our eyes up. Learning with activities such as the ones we did in class makes things more interesting and memorable instead of just taking notes and hearing speeches. This class has also prepared each of us students to work with groups of people because each assignment we did was a group assignment. The very first activity was the egg drop and this mad us really have to work together protecting our egg and creating a jingle. Another memorable activity for me was the SOLAR activity. I myself am very aware now of how I project myself to other people while they are talking. I also really watch for their body language in return. Overall this course was super fun and I am going to miss it, hoping in the future semesters we have similar courses. (11/13/11)
Lara: I really enjoyed this class of Human Relationships. I liked that we learned different styles of communication and then we had the opportunity to do group work, and different activities. I enjoyed the group activities because I feel like it got us all out of our comfort zones and got us to become more comfortable with each other. I liked how we learned how to improve and look deeper into our communication skills, by learning the proper way of communicating. From this class I have learned so much, and I will try to remember what I have learned and apply it in my everyday life now. I think that the topic of verbal and non verbal were very important to me because it made so much sense to me and made me think about how my actions and facial expressions play such a huge part in the conversation. I also really enjoyed the textbook for this class, I found it so interesting and easy to read. (11/12/11)
Crystal: This course was one of my favorites. I came into it thinking that it would be a refresher on communication and did not expect to take away from it what I did. I find myself thinking about the skills that we have learned and practised in class when I am communicating with others and understand now more than ever that communication is a lot more than just an exchange of words. At the beginning of the program I was likely found sitting at my table nestled quietly into my comfort zone and not walking around talking to people (and I probably looked like a bit of a snob because of it). This course has allowed me to step outside of that comfort zone and get to know my classmates better, to speak up without being shy or insecure and I've appreciated that the most. (11/12/11)
Kate: I throughly enjoyed Human Relationships. I like that this course really gets you to look at yourself inside and look at the areas you can improve in. All (or a lot) of the techniques learned throughout the course I think about now when I'm talking with someone. One of the most important skills i've learned is when someone is opening up and talking, they aren't always looking for an answer. Just someone to talk to. Before I always felt I needed to help them come up with a solution. I'm working on incorporating more of the non-verbals and listening more. (11/12/11)
Kate: I throughly enjoyed Human Relationships. I like that this course really gets you to look at yourself inside and look at the areas you can improve in. All (or a lot) of the techniques learned throughout the course I think about now when I'm talking with someone. One of the most important skills i've learned is when someone is opening up and talking, they aren't always looking for an answer. Just someone to talk to. Before I always felt I needed to help them come up with a solution. I'm working on incorporating more of the non-verbals and listening more. (11/12/11)
Kate: I throughly enjoyed Human Relationships. I like that this course really gets you to look at yourself inside and look at the areas you can improve in. All (or a lot) of the techniques learned throughout the course I think about now when I'm talking with someone. One of the most important skills i've learned is when someone is opening up and talking, they aren't always looking for an answer. Just someone to talk to. Before I always felt I needed to help them come up with a solution. I'm working on incorporating more of the non-verbals and listening more. (11/12/11)
Karin : oops, I mean Bev!!!! (11/12/11)
Kristy: This class was definitely my favourite out of all them. It was the most interactive, with the most learning styles and activities worked into it. I think that actually practicing the skills that we learned about with the role playing really helped to set the concept into my head. Being blindfolded and led around the school was quite the eye opener for me. It was terrifying to have no idea where I was going, or who was leading me, and basically being pulled around because I was too nervous to walk forward more than half a step at a time. The egg project when we had to keep the egg from breaking and make up a little song to go along with it I think was my favourite though. The entire group pulled together to come up with a totally original, and functioning way to protect the egg, and a song with a decent beat and a cute attitude. The project was random, but fun, and quite an icebreaker, at least for me anyways (11/11/11)
Karin : I really enjoyed this class, it was definitely one of my favourites too. Also, I really loved the Communication in Nursing text book we used for this course. I will be referring to it often and look forward to reading it from cover to cover once school is done. There are so many wonderful quotes in the book. My favourite group activity was our first one, the egg and jingle project. When we were first told what we had to do I thought, oh no...I have to help write a jingle....it was very cool to see how easily it came together and how everyone contributed to the effort. Everyone just jumped in and it went so smoothly and effortlessly. I was amazed at the creativity of all the groups. I will never forget forming, storming, norming, and performing again. I also found that learning about communication with individuals from other cultures fascinating. I would like to learn more about this subject and will probably take some additional courses in the future in regards to this area. My least favourite exercise was the one where we had to instruct our blind folded partner to put on a bandaid, I hate being mean and detest seeing it in others. This is a communication style I hope never to use. It made me uncomfortable because my partner is so kind hearted and gentle. That was a difficult role to play. I feel like this course has provided me with a greater understanding of how to communicate with all kinds of people. Last but not least I will miss blogging, thanks Donna for helping me overcome my fear of technology. (11/11/11)
fiki: By far Human Relation class was my favorite class of all. Humm…it would have been easier to answer if I was asked the other way round. This communication course definitely helped me to learn some new communication techniques. It highlighted the one I know and made me to realize how important they are in my everyday communication. It also gave me better understanding for the one I know but struggled with and encouraged me to practice them. Learning the dynamics of group was very fascinating for me. Learning and understanding at beginning of the year how group works, what kind of role people play in the group, stages of group development, how our mind process the same information differently and its effect in the group development process were very help full. Understanding the norms helped me what to expect and it made my group work experience easier and enjoyable. From this course I have learned a better technique and easy approach when I have to say no or if I need to confront someone. CARE confrontation style is assertive and it is going to be a life time tool for me when I deal with problems. (11/11/11)
Sharalee: I have thoroughly enjoyed attending and participating in this class, mostly because there were lots of ways to participate. Human interaction is how I find joy and meaning in my life and to be able to explore and grow in these areas was an amazing experience. I usually have the mind set that I do not like being in a group, although I really enjoy play team sports I have never enjoyed doing group projects. In this class looking at what my strengths are within a group and honing in on those skills has made me see what I have been missing. I have been apart of numerous groups within this class that have been conscious of the talents and abilities of everyone. When each member plays to their strengths the group as a whole prospers. Realizing and growing in this part of my life will undoubtedly help me in my career as I will be working as a team and group member constantly. (11/11/11)
Carrie: I have found that I really enjoyed this class as a whole. I have had lots of training before about communication styles and techniques and how to work together with others in a group setting. This was different as it actually let us take the different skills that we have learned and practice them through role playing and other activities. I think that this is the part that I liked the most. To learn the theory behind communication and group dynamics is valuable in itself, but unless you have the opportunity to put these skills to use it doesn’t help all that much. It’s kind of like “use it or lose it”. If you don’t practice, you will eventually forget. My favorite activity was probably the caring activity where we were led around the school blindfolded. This just went to show what a big part caring and communication plays in what we do. By not being spoken to by the person who was leading, it really hit home to demonstrate why we need to communicate to the person or client we might be working with. Trust plays a huge role in this and without caring or communication, that trust won’t be there. This I will definitely remember now. (11/11/11)