Bedside Manner for Nurses
In hospitals today there is an increased emphasis on patient satisfaction and safety. It is very important for all healthcare providers to treat patients as well as their families with respect and concern for their well being. Establishing a good rapport with patients not only provides them comfort when they are ill or injured, but has also been shown to increase patient satisfaction scores and reduce errors that might occur in the healthcare setting.
Good bedside manner is not something that is "taught" in most nursing schools. Rather it is a learned behavior that occurs when working side by side with patients. It is good for nurses and other healthcare workers to remember to treat the patient as they wish to be treated, or how they would like their family member to be treated. It is a valuable exercise for new nurses to watch other more experienced nurses' and clinicians' interactions with patients to observe how to properly interact. By watching these interactions, an inexperienced nurse can learn what types of interactions help the patient understand their care and what helps to put them at ease. Conversely, observing the interactions of others can also exhibit interactions that do not serve either of these purposes. Nurses and others who work in the healthcare field can overuse medical terminology that might be upsetting or confusing to someone not familiar with medical jargon. By speaking in terms that the patient understands, the nurse can help establish good rapport with a patient. Sometimes even asking a patient "Do you have any questions?" can help open the door to better understanding on the patient's part and also provide the nurse with a better means of providing more clear information.
Nurses and other health care workers who establish a good relationship with their patients and the patient's family members have a decreased incidence of being named in malpractice cases. Establishing a good relationship with patients also increases job satisfaction in nurses. Simple common courtesies have also been shown to increase patient safety. Maintaining good eye contact, calling patients by name when addressing them, and asking about their personal habits are good practices in establishing rapport and are all characteristics of good bedside manner. Patients feel as if the nurse is concerned about their well being and safety. Patients are vulnerable when they are experiencing an illness or undergoing testing; they need and deserve to be treated courteously. Recognizing patients by their name also decreases the risk of medical errors. Fortunately, most nurses and healthcare workers are concerned about people and genuinely care about their patients' health and safety.
In healthcare settings, it is easy for a nurse to get bogged down with the stress of the job. Nurses often feel overwhelmed working long shifts, missing meals, and being understaffed. But it is important to remember the fundamentals of a good relationship with patients, even when working conditions are not ideal. For the most part, patients are respectful of the role the nurse plays; the nurse acts as both the coordinator of treatments and caregiver. Having an excellent rapport with patients, their family, and loved ones is the basis for good bedside manner and so important for improving patient satisfaction in the healthcare setting.
Published: 2009-11-03
