Im a nursing student and slightly social phobic. Im not really used to talking with strangers, and have always been shy. And now as a nursing student, I have to talk to patients (obviously) but im not sure how. Maybe they wont bite me, but maybe they'll make me feel stupid or embarassed or something like that. So what can I do? to improve my social skills, especially as a future nurse?
2006-12-17 12:18:47 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
First thing - realize that all of that IS going to happen but it's ok - you're a student and some patients delight in educating you through kindness and patience or through their own superiority trip.
Just take it as part of your education and relax. It will not get better, could get worse but eventually you'll be so used to it it will almost be fun. Actually is IS fun sometimes. Observe the experienced nurses and admire how they let it roll off.
If you remeber that you are there to help - you'll get through it.
If you can't take a little harassment and uncertainty - change professions.
The fact that you are concerned about it tells me that you care and so you will find a way to manage and be useful and good at nursing.
Kick some butt!
2006-12-17 12:31:27 · answer #1 · answered by misspearlnecklace 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the things you can do to help get over your shyness with patients is remember that you are the one with the information and the training. The patient looks to you for help.
Just talk to them as you would anyone that is older than you, with respect. Don't use words like honey, darling, sweetie, etc. Those are words that are killers in patient care. Meaning, they are condescending and not needed. Always treat and talk to your patients the same way you would want to be treated and talked to if you were the one ill.
Some people will be grumpy, but remember they are in pain, ill and not feeling their normal self. It's up to us as care givers to understand that, not take things that they say personally, and do our best to be empathetic and put ourselves in their place.
If you do that, and do that with everyone, you will soon become a favorite nurse and feel good when you go home at night.
And SMILE and make eye contact. These show genuine care for others.
2006-12-17 20:30:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just being comfortable with what you're doing will go very far towards putting your patients at ease.
Whenever I sensed a nurse was anxious or nervous, I tried to put them at ease with relatively simple conversation.
Usually, it was just small talk -- but sometimes, I got them to explain what they were going to do before they did it. Mostly it depended on what kinda results I was getting from the "where ya from, got kids, man how bout that weather" junk -- but sometimes I was genuinely curious.
Different people probably handle info differently, but I always wanted to know everything. I figured if the doc or nurse didn't give me a reasonably thorough and accurate answer, he or she was trying to hide something from me -- which I assumed was (his or her professional) incompetence, and that made me nervous.
If you have the chance, either take or audit a college-level class in public speaking (often called "speech"). The professors are pretty good at helping people that are serious about breaking out of their shells.
Best wishes.
2006-12-17 20:58:16 · answer #3 · answered by wireflight 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First start by introducing yourself. Tell them why your are there and what you are going to do. Call the patients by their last names Mr and Mrs so and so. Avoid terms like 'Honey" Sweet" etc. They are condescending and does not show respect. I worked in a hospital once and the ER nurses where calling very old men and old ladies "young man and young woman" respectively. Now these people knew that they were not young and did not appreciate it. Should they have said Old man or Old lady? NO. Their name would have been fine.
2006-12-17 20:44:04 · answer #4 · answered by Carlos D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just look at each patient as a person that you will be helping and in order to help them you have to put them at ease. You can smile and keep you face friendly and open and so if you don't talk very much you still do not seem to be uncaring. I think with time and experience you will learn how to do this without any problems.
2006-12-17 21:07:16 · answer #5 · answered by Gee-Gee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get on the same height level and start talking, about the weather ask the patient if they are scared but just say something
2006-12-17 22:45:21 · answer #6 · answered by usamedic420 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well based on my experience as a student nurse, you should always start the conversation with them and always put a smile on your face everytime you approached them, keep in mind that some patients could be rude on you but a lot of them are nice, and they entrust you their life so they have no reason to be rude in you, dont be afraid to talk to them, as a nurse its one of your responsibilty to have a good rapport on them, so just always smile when handling patients..:)
2006-12-17 20:46:54 · answer #7 · answered by blu_wizard 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Practice and experience.
2006-12-17 20:26:41 · answer #8 · answered by Clown Knows 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
firefly Is this you? … :)!
http://www.osoq.com/funstuff/extra/extra01.asp?strName=firefly
2006-12-17 20:33:37 · answer #9 · answered by cee g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
idk
2006-12-17 20:20:53 · answer #10 · answered by John Q 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋