The Impact on Nurse-Patient Relationship
The Impact on Nurse-Patient Relationship
Telehealth has significantly changed the dynamics of the nurse-patient relationship. Now, nursing care is provided virtually, which creates new challenges in building and maintaining therapeutic rapport with patients.
Telehealth Changing Dynamics
Firstly, using technology such as video conferencing for consultations alters the traditional in-person interaction. It may feel impersonal to some patients and reduce their comfort level, as they may perceive a lack of genuine human concern and connection. You, as a registered nurse, might also find it challenging to pick up on subtle vital cues such as facial expressions, body language, and nonverbal signs that often enrich understanding of a patient’s condition, especially in a mental health context.
Maintaining a Strong Nurse-Patient Relationship
Despite these challenges, there are strategies that you can adapt to maintain a strong rapport with your patients.
1. Practice Active Listening
The first is to practice active listening. Despite the digital interface, ensure you show empathy and acknowledge patient concerns. This could mean using verbal and nonverbal cues, providing validation, and summarizing their points to confirm understanding.
2. Enhance Communication Skills
It’s also crucial to enhance your communication skills for the digital medium. This could involve speaking clearly and slowly, maintaining eye contact by looking into the camera, and using gestures when appropriate to reinforce your points. You should also check, and adjust, if needed, your audio and visual settings to ensure your patient can see and hear you clearly.
3. Personalize Patient Care
Another crucial aspect is to personalize patient care. Learn about patient history, preferences, and values. This may help you in providing care tailored to their needs and make them feel seen and valued.
4. Create a Comfortable Environment
Creating an environment of comfort, trust, and familiarity is also key. You can achieve this by being consistent with appointment times, maintaining a professional appearance, and removing any distracting elements from the visual background.
A strong therapeutic rapport with patients is still achievable in the era of telehealth. With some adjustments and a keen focus on empathic, clear, and effective communication, you can continue to provide high-quality nursing care.
