Experience Summary

A consultation with a patient attending for a smear test. The patient is registered blind.

Learning outcomes

• Underpinning communication skills for assessing, planning, providing and managing best practice, evidence-based nursing care
  • Actively listen, recognise and respond to verbal and non-verbal cues
  • Use prompts and positive verbal and non-verbal reinforcement
  • Use appropriate non-verbal communication including touch, eye contact and personal space
  • Make appropriate use of open and closed questioning
  • Use caring conversation techniques
  • Check understanding and use clarification techniques
  • Be aware of own unconscious bias in communication encounters
  • Write accurate, clear, legible records and documentation
  • Confidently and clearly present and share verbal and written reports with individuals and groups
  • Analyse and clearly record and share digital information and data
  • Provide clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when delegating or handing over responsibility for care
• Evidence-based, best practice approaches to communication for supporting people of all ages, their families and carers in preventing ill health and in managing their care
  • Share information and check understanding about the causes, implications and treatment of a range of common health conditions including anxiety, depression, memory loss, diabetes, dementia, respiratory disease, cardiac disease, neurological disease, cancer, skin problems, immune deficiencies, psychosis, stroke and arthritis.
  • Use clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people’s understanding of what has caused their health condition and the implications of their care and treatment
  • Recognise and accommodate sensory impairments during all communications
  • Support and manage the use of personal communication aids
  • Identify the need for and manage a range of alternative communication techniques
  • Use repetition and positive reinforcement strategies
  • Assess motivation and capacity for behaviour change and clearly explain cause and effect relationships related to common health risk behaviours including smoking, obesity, sexual practice, alcohol and substance use
  • Provide information and explanation to people, families and carers and respond to questions about their treatment and care and possible ways of preventing ill health to enhance understanding
  • Engage in difficult conversations, including breaking bad news and support people who are feeling emotionally or physically vulnerable or in distress, conveying compassion and sensitivity
• Evidence-based, best practice communication skills and approaches for providing therapeutic interventions
  • Positive behaviour support approaches
• Evidence-based, best practice communication skills and approaches for working with people in professional teams

Further Discussion

• Health inequalities 
• Assumptions in practice 
• Barriers to obtaining smears