Working with Families: Effective Communication Strategies for Healthcare Professionals

This article discusses effective communication strategies for healthcare professionals when working with families of individuals with disabilities. It emphasizes the importance of family-work policies and the impact of family dynamics on treatment potential. The article also explores the sensitive topic of sexuality and cancer, and how healthcare professionals can address it with patients and their families.

Running head: WORKING WITH FAMILIES
Working with families
Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Working with Families
Clinicians, the front line expert and office directors ordinarily come into contact with
families of individuals with capacities on a customary premise. However, compelling family –
work strategies may be the first ignored range of preparing for most experts in this field (Schuler,
Zaider, & Kissane, 2012). Assisting experts to create the abilities to work well with families
effectively can contrast tremendous progress, and disappointment in legitimately supporting an
individual with formative capacities (Rustinc, 2018). In truth, indeed well-developed person
treatment programs can be rendered futile if the family stands in the way. As much as we might
refuse to admit it, a few of the foremost challenging behavior experts ever confront may not be
from individuals with formative incapacities –but from their families. A question experts must
ask themselves is: When a family is frustrated with your agency, what materials do you have in
your tool package? Sprinkling experts and groups to work more efficiently with families can
sooner or later enhance the quality of life and treatment potential of individuals with formative
inabilities; and may make a contribution, in general sense, to strengthened corporations and
social guide networks.
The emotions brought forth by anger are neither right nor horrific. Like every feeling, it’s
conveying a message, telling you that a condition is frightening, or unreasonable. In case your
kneejerk response to anger is to get infuriated, it doesn’t imply that your message won’t be
conveyed. Gilstrap and White (2015) note that it is flawlessly regular to be angry when you have
been mistreated, anger tends to be a problem after expressing it in a manner may end up hurting
those around you to some extent you included. The conversation between Jane and Tom depicts
the extent of damage anger can cause an individual. Tom became very angry at the doctor who
took long to diagnose him even after he had explained to him the symptoms he was having. After

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several months, his condition worsened. His was furious since he knew that if he had been
diagnosed earlier, the possibilities of getting better would have been high. The nurse tried to
calm him down using the methods taught in the medical field which tends to bring out effective
communication with the patient. Jane did understand that it was not easy being a patient or being
in a family with a patient. She, therefore, showed empathy and tried to make him feel that she
understood and cared about him by focusing her attention on his feelings, Expressions, and
actions. Through showing her interest in Tom’s case by being gentle, the Nurse was able to
respond in a calm and kind manner. She made the situation better by avoiding negative
comments and instead focused on what would help the patient, like, advising Tom to compose
letters to his children or do video recordings to keep in touch with them.
The discussion between Tom and Jane comes to a topic on the sexual relationship
between his wife and him, Ann explains that a lot of people with a similar case suffer in their
sexual relationships, due to tiredness and exhaustion. The patient tried to explain how they often
make time for each other, but he ends up going to sleep. In turn, the nurse advice Tom to discuss
the issue with sally because it’s at such point that the spouses of the sick need some intimacy and
some closeness. She further explains that his wife may not be able to tell him about the issue
since she would fear to hurt him. Tom worried that the colostomy bag would get in the way and
thus draining him the energy to perform. The literature clearly shows that when introducing this
sensitive topic the nurse becomes brief on it, she keeps the matter short, stays focused on the
topic at the moment because communication works best when they are much focused. The
specificity of the nurse enables her to get specific answers regarding the subject. Through being
positive the nurse keeps away from accusations, negative comments and the like. Though this

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may be difficult and would require some practice to reach the perfection that can also make a
world of difference as seen in the conversation.
For a good relationship to be maintained with an individual’s nurse, sensitive subjects
such as sex and others should be discussed. One may not feel comfortable but should note that
the medics are trained to handle such matters. Tom got used to talking to the nurse about the
sexual issues he was experiencing that caused his condition. When handling sensitive matters,
the nurse, was clear to make the conversation a bit comfortable by being diplomatic (Sutterby,
2015). On the other hand, this indeed enabled Tom to open up and share his problem with the
nurse. To achieve this conversation, therefore, the nurse had to acknowledge that specific
difficult conversations do not have happy endings, at one point, the nurse went to see Tom and
he claimed to have had a stressful day and he just wanted to go back to bed since he didn’t want
to talk to the nurse.
To understand the issue better, the nurse was forced to ask Tom questions, and she was,
therefore, able to know exactly what he was going through. Exhibiting loyalty and providing
guidance leads to the accomplishment of a sensitive topic. Loyalty leads to trust, Tom was able
to trust the nurse since she had shown loyalty to him and this made it easier for him to discuss
this private issue with the Nurse. Most people were raised to believe that emotions must be left at
the door which should not be the case since Tom’s condition had affected both of them and
approach that’s not significant in today’s work environment. She was able to manage the
emotions within the conversation, protecting the dignity of her patient and treating him with
respect.
To ensure the issue is well solved, the nurse ought to have addressed the entire family at
large. This would have helped Tom to feel he is not alone in his condition. Through presenting

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everyone’s responses it would have allowed them to understand Tom’s condition and to come up
with a solution.
In this cas, propoer communication strategies are required to ensure the isues of the
client are well addressed. Not everybody with cancer can have changes in sexual desire or how
their sexual feelings. They would in all probability not take note of any changes within the
slightest degree. However, they possibly would realize cancer changes an individual’s body
image affecting how they feel about themselves and intercourse. In the conversation between the
nurse and Tom, He explains to the nurse how he feels the colostomy bag getting in the way as
they get intimate with the wife. Some people lose interest in sex and feel tired as seen in Tom’s
situation. In any case, other people say that they want to have sex more than usual (Boisvert, &
Poulin, 2016). If these people are in a relationship, a crisis will typically bring couples very close
together.
People are entirely different and have different sexual needs, and it is nearly a tall order
to identify how cancer will influence your sexuality and sex life. Some types of cancer have an
impact on people’s ability or crave to have sex than others (Collaghan, 2011). The concerns of
those in a loving relationship may ultimately be different from those who are single. Having
cancer or its treatment can cause; sickness or feeling sick, Tom was often sick and did spend
much of his time in bed. Fatigue, irritability, depression, uneasiness or tension, pain, bowl issues
such as diarrhea, bladder issues, mouth problems, breathing problem, change in look and
scarring and change in sex hormones. You might not feel like having sex if you have any of
these side effects or sentiments. A few individuals say they feel less attractive owing to these
effects, but once the treatment is over all these side effects are controlled.

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Cancer diagnosis affects the patient, family, friends, and community of the patient
(Milek, Butler, & Bodenmann, 2012). Cancer treatment can cause incredible changes in lifestyle
and emotional reactions, which may be problematic for those in a relationship. In most cases the
patient’s partner with is affected mostly among the various relations, as seen within Toms
family, thou the spouse is quiet it appears she is mainly affected by Toms sickness. Both the
patient and the spouse may experience worse feelings concerning the condition such as
disappointments, uneasiness, outrage which may have an impact on the relationship (Faith
Addis, 2017). Every couple responds uniquely. A number of individuals according to (Cook,
Dezangre, & De Mol, 2018) might discover that the challenges related to cancer and cancer
remedy enhance the bond and strengthen the relationship. At times, various couples report a rise
in tension and strain.
Osteopath (2007) notes that the partner who offers directional support to cancer patient is
always close in the daily support. They assist with physical work and give emotional support. It
may change the roles each engages in, and adjustments are required to house the patient’s health.
The alteration in desire and commitments can be challenging for the patient and spouse (O’Neill,
2011). They may report feeling guilty or overwhelmed. Sex may be distant from their intellect
when they are first diagnosed with cancer and confronting many choices (Haselden, Piscitelli,
Drapalski, Medoff, Glynn, Cohen, & Dixon, 2016). In any case, after things settle a bit, they will
start wondering how cancer or the treatments will influence the regular angles of their life
including sexual activity and sexuality.
At a personal level, sexuality is how one sees themselves, how much frailty and closeness
they allow, and how they experience the power of touch. Everyone is unique in their needs and
desires when it comes to sexuality. But it plays a significant role in many people’s lives. The

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symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment may affect the patient’s sexuality. Issues
that will rise include hormonal changes, fatigue, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and erectile
dysfunction. Side effects such as hair loss, weight gain or scarring from an operation can
influence a person’s self-esteem. Physical changes from surgery or hormone treatment, as well as
mental components such as fear and stress, can contribute to a loss of sex drive.
Conclusion
Grief is something we have all dealt with at some point in our lives. Although many
people only think of this emotion in the context of someone dying, Grief can be experienced at
whatever point anything you discover profitable or valuable is lost. Going back to the
conversation between Tom and Jane, Tom is grieving, and he feels he has lost his health due to
the doctor’s negligence since he could not diagnose him earlier despite Tom speaking out about
all the symptoms he had. With a cancer diagnosis, grief is a common emotional roller
coaster.Whether the loss encountered is substantial or intangible, Grief can occur amid treatment
and beyond.

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Collaghan, T. (2011). Sexual intimacy and cancer. Dana -Farber cancer institute, pp. 1-84.
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