Effective Communication Strategies in Nursing: Aboriginal Older Adults

This essay explores effective and respectful communication strategies in nursing, specifically focusing on the care of Aboriginal older adults facing terminal illnesses. It emphasizes the importance of clear, courteous communication, the use of personal connections to build trust and understanding, and the appropriate use of body language to convey empathy and respect. The essay highlights the unique cultural considerations in caring for this population, including the need for culturally sensitive communication about end-of-life care. The paper also discusses the nurse's role in facilitating communication between patients, their families, and healthcare providers, acknowledging the emotional and psychological stresses associated with terminal illness. The author believes that these strategies are crucial for improving patient outcomes and providing comfort and support to both patients and their families, especially considering the lack of formalized palliative care programs for Aboriginal communities. The essay underscores the importance of nurses adapting their communication styles to meet the specific needs of their patients to ensure the best possible care.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 1
Professional Communications
Name
Institution

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 2
Respectful Communication with an Aboriginal Older Adults
Introduction
Thesis statement: effective and respectful communication strategies in nursing are
fundamental in both personal and professional settings to promote wellness and improve
health outcomes. Communication is a very crucial aspect of life and without it, a lot of
things cannot be executed accordingly. Communication is important in the practice of
nursing to create a patient-nurse relationship that is effective in the provision of care.
Communication should be honest, respectful, and tailored to reduce anxiety among
patients. This paper talks about respectful and effective communication strategies that can
be used for an aboriginal older adult with a terminal illness. These strategies may include
the use of personal connections, appropriate use of body language, and clear and
courteous speaking. The paper further elaborates on the nurse role in communicating with
a patient and their family.
The Use of Personal Connections
One of the most difficult tasks a nurse or any other health practitioner may have is to
disclose bad news to a patient and their family about their health. The difficulty with such
disclosure may prevent a clinician from engaging the patient in a meaningful
conversation about their terminal illness (Fox, 2014). Communication between a nurse
and their patient is built upon strong interpersonal relationships. This kind of relationship
also presents among the nurse and the family of the patient. Meaningful relationships
ensure that nurses execute their clinical tasks more easily while at the same time

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engaging the patient and their families in the plan for care (Fox, 2014). Patients
diagnosed with terminal illness experience a lot of mental torture and their families
undergo a lot of emotional and psychological stresses. It is therefore important to create a
personal connection with the patient and their family to ensure every party involved in
the care is satisfied with the propositions and care outcomes.
It is also important to note that patients and their families may need time to process the
news before giving any reactions. Through the use of personal connections, a nurse or
clinician will allow the discussion about the terminal illness to proceed at the pace of the
patient and their family (Fox, 2014). Effective and respectful communication in palliative
care also involves providing more details and information regarding the illness. Personal
connections are fundamental in filling the patient and their families with the hope to
achieve comfort.
I believe that creating a personal connection with a patient is crucial in creating a patient-
nurse relationship that improves the quality of life or enhances comfort in palliative care.
I believe that terminally ill patient may wish to know other available care options. I also
believe that their families may wish to find available community-based support. There
are cases when a patient may need spiritual support and as a nurse in palliative care, I
believe that it may be necessary to appropriately direct them to such resources. The only
way to know about all these needs is through the creation of personal connections to
make them feel comfortable opening up for me.
Clear and Courteous Speaking

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The Canadian Aboriginals are made up of the First Nation, Metis, and Inuit. The
aboriginals in Canada lack a formalized palliative care program in addition to an absence
of adequate medical services. When caring for the Canadian Aboriginals, it is important
to courteously talk with the patient to ensure that their needs are catered for. In situations
of terminal illness, a clinician or a nurse must ask the patient and their family who they
would like to be involved in the decision-making process in the delivery of care
(Peereboom & Coyle, 2012). It is important to note that the period around an individual’s
end of life is very crucial and should be approached carefully and courteously. The
aboriginals normally have some customary activities during the passing of an individual.
It is the nurse’s responsibility to be clear and courteous in their communication about the
patient’s condition to allow their family enough time to prepare for these customary
beliefs and activities.
The nurse should be clear about the care procedures for end-of-life care and provide
clarity in situations when they feel that the patient and their family do not understand any
proposals for care (Wittenberg-Lyles, Goldsmith & Platt, 2014). Another part of clear
and courteous communication is by listening to the patient. Patients and their families
appreciate it when they feel that they have the undistracted attention of the clinician. The
patient should additionally be encouraged to speak freely by courteously asking them
open-minded questions.
I believe that courteous and clear communication when talking to a terminally ill patient
and their family is very important in the delivery of care. Carefully speaking to a patient

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makes them feel respected. Additionally, being courteous with your words as a nurse is
important to ensure that nothing culturally or emotionally disrespectful is mentioned to
the patient and their family. The period surrounding a patient’s end of life is crucial to
both the patient and their families and I believe a clinician should be careful and
courteous with their words to avoid being disrespectful or remorseless.
An Appropriate use of Body Language
Not many clinicians and nurses are comfortable talking about death but it is important
and necessary to communicate about end-of-life care for terminally ill patients because it
may be beneficial to them and their families. Most people from the First Nation and
Metis do not openly talk about death because they believe in the hope for better health
outcomes. But when death becomes apparent then nurses and clinicians become
responsible to communicate the same with their patients and their families.
Communication has the potential of massively changing the quality of life for both the
patient and their family.
It is important to show empathy both verbally and non-verbally in palliative care. No-
verbal communication is very fundamental because the body language of a nurse
massively impacts on the patient-nurse relationship (Brighton & Bristowe, 2016). Some
of the components of body language that can be used in palliative care include keeping
eye contact, avoiding barriers between one and their patient, maintaining an appropriate
distance with the patient, and the use of gestures to elaborate on the words spoken thus
making the communication more effective (Brighton & Bristowe, 2016). The use of

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appropriate body language that respects the aboriginal culture is important in ensuring
that the communication between a nurse and their patient is respectful and effective.
I believe that body language is a very important aspect of nursing especially in palliative
care because it gives the patient and their family the impression that you feel their pain
and worries. I understand how it may be difficult to break the news about the end of life
to a patient and their families. The use of appropriate non-verbal communication such as
body language makes the patient and their families understand the content of the message
you are trying to pass. I additionally believe that the use of body language helps in
building a patient-nurse relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and understanding.
Conclusion
Effective and respectful communication strategies in nursing are fundamental in both
personal and professional settings to promote wellness and improve health outcomes.
Communication is important in the practice of nursing to create a patient-nurse
relationship that is effective in the provision of care. Communication should be honest,
respectful, and tailored to reduce anxiety among patients. The aboriginals in Canada lack
a formalized palliative care program in addition to an absence of adequate medical
services. Effective and respectful communication is important in palliative care for the
older Canadian Aboriginals. Some of the strategies of effective and respectful
communication in terminal illness include the use of personal connections, appropriate
use of body language, and clear and courteous speaking.

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References
Brighton, L. J., & Bristowe, K. (2016). Communication in palliative care: talking about
the end of life, before the end of life. Postgraduate medical journal, 92(1090),
466-470.
Fox, M. Y. (2014). Improving communication with patients and families in the intensive
care unit: palliative care strategies for the intensive care unit nurse. Journal of
Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 16(2), 93-98.
Peereboom, K., & Coyle, N. (2012). Facilitating goals-of-care discussions for patients
with life-limiting disease—communication strategies for nurses. Journal of
Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 14(4), 251-258.
Wittenberg-Lyles, E., Goldsmith, J., & Platt, C. S. (2014, November). Palliative care
communication. In Seminars in oncology nursing (Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 280-286).
WB Saunders.