Situational Nursing Mock Interview
Practice 50 Situational Nursing interview questions covering clinical judgment, patient safety, and critical response scenarios.
Question 26 of 50
How would you change your communication style if the patient's family was having trouble understanding what you were trying to tell them?
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Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
Nurses are teachers and instruct patients on difficult concepts and challenging instructions. The efficacy of their instructions is extremely important for optimal patient outcomes. For example, if a patient leaves the hospital or clinic setting without full comprehension of the plan of care then they may return to the hospital or have worsening symptoms or complications. Poor comprehension comes with a high burden of decreased patient outcomes, increased financial ramifications for patient and healthcare system, and decreased patient satisfaction. It is extremely important that the nurse learns to communicate with the patient and family in a way that they understand and can implement.
Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
"I review the instructions before I give them to the patient, and I always make certain that I have written ones for them as well. When I review instructions, I decrease the stimulation in the room and make certain I have there attention, and they are not hungry or tired or something else. I look at their faces when I am talking and sometimes you can see the confusion even if they are saying that they understand. Even when they say they understand, I ask them to either show me or explain back to me what I need them to know. Watching them tells me what I missed, and then I keep instructing in different ways until they can explain it back to me."
"People learn in all sorts of different ways. If a patient's family was having a hard time understanding verbal information I'm giving them verbally, I can provide them with written information or with a picture guide. I can also use a hospital-approved patient education video if there is one relevant to the information I'm providing. Once I've switched to a different style or tool, I would request that the family 'teach back' to me the information I've provided them. Then I can assess their understanding and provide additional information as needed."
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Anonymous Answer
It depends on the context. If English isn't their first language, I would offer a translator service. If they dislike my body language or my personality, I would ask them if there is anything I could do to make their experience more comfortable or try to crack a joke if appropriate. If the situation doesn't improve, then I would get the charge involved.
Stephanie's Feedback
It sounds like you've given careful thought to best meeting your patients' needs, which is wonderful. I suggest adding a concluding sentence about the importance of staying agile and being open to adapting your communication and behavior when needed by a patient or their family.
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