Reflective essay
HLSC110

Question: What can I take away from the experience of observing this video that will help me develop clinical skill (knowledge and self-awareness) in either therapeutic communication or inter-professional communication?

Therapeutic communication is the communication between the nurse and the patient, focusing on the patient’s wellbeing (Berman et al, 2015). In the video of the radiographer working in the emergency department, therapeutic communication is demonstrated between the radiographer and his patient. After reflecting over the therapeutic communication that’s shown in this video, it has helped me developed different techniques that are used with this communication and how to approach these techniques in the best way.
Using Discolls reflection cycle, the ‘what’ comes first, describing what has happened in the situation. The therapeutic communication in this video starts with the Radiographer Peter, abruptly entering the room of pregnant patient Sally, who has seemed to have had a stroke. Not realizing that Sally can’t talk, Peter immediately starts to ask her questions before Sally’s husband has to step in and explain what her situation is. Peter then carry’s on asking Sally’s husband questions about herself and explains that he needs to do a CT scan of her brain. Peter then makes it clear that because a CT scan requires them to use radiation that there is harm to the baby. Sally’s husband becomes concerned and tries to sort out with Peter if this is really the best way to do this scan. With some explaining by Peter of why they need to do this scan, Sally’s husband then understands that they need to make the diagnoses of Sally first.

Discolls cycle of reflection then follows up with the ‘so what’, where the analyzing of this event occurs. By using the summary of therapeutic communication techniques by Julia Balzer Riley (Julia, 2011) the therapeutic communications displayed in this video are easier to identify. However after identifying these techniques used in this video by the radiographer, I thought could have been displayed better. The first therapeutic communication technique that I thought wasn’t done well was listening. Peter was rushing through this interview and wasn’t actually giving Sally’s husband the right answer to his questions. I felt that Peter explained the same thing over again, instead of changing the way he said it so Sally’s husband could understand where he was coming from. This showed Peter’s lack of interest in Sally’s condition. Peter could improve this technique by listening and understanding what Sally’s husband was asking, then explaining it in a way that he understands it. Peter also didn’t establish any guidelines that Julia mentions in her summary. Peter didn’t explain Sally’s part or motive in this situation which then made it difficult for Sally to know what to expect from Peter. Peter can improve this by explaining Sally’s roles and purposes for this particular interaction. Acknowledgment is another technique I thought Peter did poorly in that I identified. Peter didn’t show Sally her importance in this situation and their relationship. Peter can improve acknowledgement by interacting with Sally more and making sure she understands what his saying. However I found that peter did well in using the summarizing and planning therapeutic communication techniques that have helped me develop my clinical skills. Peter made statements of the main point discussed which was information about the harm radiation can do to the baby. I recognized that peter summarized and made this statement very clear to help Sally take out the importance of the interview. Peter also planned the situation out well discussing the goals and steps that they will undertake. I learnt by doing this peter dwelled on what Sally’s role is between their relationship.
Discolls cycle of reflection finishes of with the ‘now what’, explaining what you are going to do about it. I have found that after my experience in identifying the therapeutic communication techniques in this video, I have increased my knowledge in this field and I am now aware of what specific techniques to use. I am going to put these techniques into practice and start using them in the appropriate situations. After reflecting on this situation I can see clearly between the good and the bad therapeutic communication techniques. With the use of Julia’s techniques in her summary of therapeutic communication techniques will help improve the relationship between the nurse and the patient. From this experience of reflecting the radiographer in this emergency situation I will take away the good techniques of therapeutic communication used by Peter and learn from what he could have improve on.

References
Julia, R. (2011). Communication in nursing. (7th ed). St. Louis, Missouri.
Berman et al, (2015) Kozier and Erbs fundamentals of nursing. (3rd ed). Melbourne, VIC.