Experience Summary

Consultation with a 14 year old patient, attending with mother asking for “mini pill” for period control.

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
  • Confidently and clearly present and share verbal and written reports with individuals and groups
  • 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
  • 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
  • Identify the need for and manage a range of alternative communication techniques
  • 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
• 3. Evidence-based, best practice communication skills and approaches for providing therapeutic interventions
  • Motivational interview techniques
  • Solution focused therapies
  • De-escalation strategies and techniques
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy techniques
  • Distraction and diversion strategies
• 4. Evidence-based, best practice communication skills and approaches for working with people in professional teams
  • A calm presence when dealing with conflict

Further Discussion

• Safeguarding to be considered.
  
• What to do if have a concern.
• Are contraception methods licensed under the age of 16 for period control?
• What other investigations may be requested for heavy periods?
• Underage sex. Is it consented?
• Difficult consultation as a lot of areas to discuss and address.
• How to excuse parent from the room .
• How old can a patient be to be seen on their own?
• Who is leading the consultation parent or child?
• Is the patient telling the truth, how would we know?
• Does this require following up more often? If not currently sexually active would the patient require a pill review to discuss missed pills etc?
• Are their other agencies that can help with ongoing guidance and support, I.e., school, sexual health clinic?