How do you build relationships and gain trust with patients?
As an addiction nurse, you must be able to build and maintain relationships with your patients. Patients may be anxious or reluctant to get treatment, especially when that requires significant lifestyle changes. Consider soft skills that would be helpful in this role, like actively listening, being empathetic, encouraging, self-aware, collaborative, and compassionate. Demonstrate ways that you go about gaining the trust of your patients and building good rapport.
"During clinicals, we extensively covered the importance of building trusting and healthy relationships with patients. I would always knock on a patient's door before entering, greet them, and introduce myself. I would make eye contact, so they know that I am focused on them and I would display a positive attitude and professionalism. We often forget that the things we do day-to-day become second nature, but patients may not receive care often and do not know what to expect. This can cause anxiety and stress for patients, so I would make sure I took the time to explain everything as I review their care plan and explain step-by-step if I'm taking their vitals or starting an IV. This helps reduce their stress and builds trust in my nursing abilities. I would also give patients the opportunity to ask questions throughout my time with them as well."
"Communication is key when building a relationship with your patients. I actively listen to patients and empathize with their situation. I also provide feedback throughout the conversation to ensure I understand what they are trying to tell me and I ask probing questions if I need anything to be clarified or better explained. I try to get to know them on a personal level, if they are willing to share details about their life and their family, I demonstrate a genuine interest in learning more about them. Patients love when you ask about a grandchild by name or remember that there was an important life event and you inquire about it later. It really helps strengthen the connection and relationship. When giving instructions or educating a patient, I use simple terms that they will understand and I avoid over-using medical terms or jargon that they may not be familiar with."
"When building a relationship with a patient, I try to mirror their demeanor. I'm an extrovert and tend to be high-energy and bubbly, however, if I notice I have a quiet and reserved patient, I will try to match their tone and volume to make them more comfortable and not be overbearing. If a patient has a good sense of humor, I may tell them a joke as I'm taking their vitals. Being self-aware tends to help form a better connection initially with patients. Another way I build trust is by keeping my word. If I tell a patient I will be back shortly to do something for them, I come back and do it. Demonstrating my reliability over and over helps build that trust and confidence. All of our interactions with patients play a large role in their overall patient experience, so this is an area I focus heavily on in my day-to-day nursing."
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