Effective Therapeutic Communication in Healthcare: A Reflection

This is a reflective journal entry from a nursing student detailing their experiences using therapeutic communication skills in a medical ward setting at National Capital Private Hospital. The student reflects on their initial skepticism about the hospital environment, which was quickly dispelled by the friendly and helpful staff. The journal focuses on the first two weeks of placement, during which the student worked with patients experiencing low blood sugar. Effective therapeutic communication is highlighted as crucial for understanding patient needs, monitoring treatment effectiveness, and building rapport with both patients and their families. The student emphasizes how communication aided in providing diagnostic details and support to families, improving patient compliance, and enhancing diagnostic skills. The reflection concludes with an action plan to further utilize communication as a therapeutic tool in future practice.

Running Head: EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
Reflection for first two weeks
Description
I had done my hospital placement for 4 weeks at medical ward in National Capital
Private Hospital, Canberra, Australia. The hospital has a number of departments like the
oncology surgery department, rehabilitation, cardiothoracic surgery and many more. I have
gained a sound and scientific knowledge on nursing skills as well as had hands on experience.
The course has taught me every possible details before I went to deal with real patients.
Feelings
In the first two weeks of my joining I was assigned to deal with patients having low
blood sugar using my effective therapeutic communication skills. Before coming to the
hospital I was very skeptical about the hospital environment and staff. I thought that the
ambience there will be very strict and disciplined. However, after I went into the medical
ward I was received very cordially and cheerfully. I found that the hospital staff was very
friendly and helpful. They guided me through every step starting from the very first day. My
effective communication skills really helped me develop my relations with the patients as
well as the staff.
Evaluation
Effective therapeutic communication has helped me as a nurse as it is very beneficial
for the patient’s health. It helps to know about the health care conditions of the patients, their
need and whether the treatment is effective for them or not. Nursing is that branch of health
care science that focuses on serving the needs of humans. Thus, communication becomes the
vital element for nursing approaches (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou,2014).

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EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
Analysis
During the entire period of two weeks effective communication has helped me to treat
my patients in a very scientific manner. It has helped me to provide the patient’s family
members with therapeutic assistance that has proved to be really helpful for them. I have
provided the patient’s family members with their daily recovery report along with the daily
diagnostic details. The significance of good communication skills has become an integral part
of healthcare profession as it helps to create a more authentic and useful relationship between
the patient and them. It is also helpful in managing tough clinical conditions and thus relieves
both the doctors and the patients and also the attendants in case of heated or sentimental
situations (Rajan et al.,2015).
Conclusion
During the entire first two weeks I have dealt with a lot of patients having critical
blood sugar problems. My therapeutic skills helped me as well as the patient to comply with
all my instructions as well as to know what the students want and the treatment procedure
that will work in case of different patients
Action Plan
In future I have planned to use my effective communication can also be used as a
therapy to treat many patients as it really improves the level of listening. It has helped me to
listen to the problems and difficulties of the patients. It has also enhanced my diagnostic
skills due to better understanding of the patient’s difficulties. Better communication also
results in better compliance to the advice given by the me to the patients.

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EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
References
Kourkouta, L., & Papathanasiou, I. V. (2014). Communication in nursing practice. Materia
socio-medica, 26(1), 65.
Ranjan, P., Kumari, A., & Chakrawarty, A. (2015). How can doctors improve their
communication skills?. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR, 9(3),
JE01.