A standard way of introducing yourself is by saying: “Hi ___ (patient’s name), my name is ____(your name), and I will be your CNA today. Is there something I can help you with?” Notice that it is important to address the patient by their name. Some patients may be confused about what a “CNA” is. Nurse assistant or aide are other perfectly fine words you can use instead of CNA for clarification. More than likely, you will be dealing with alzheimer’s and dementia patients, so be especially considerate when explaining your role to them, and realize you may have to reiterate it more than once. At this point, make note of any of their special preferences. For example, you can ask the patient if they have a nickname they would prefer to be called. Paying attention to the small details and keeping them in mind will make the caregiver and patient bond strong.
Firstly, allow the patient to articulate their words and tell you what is going on with them. Let them share their fears and frustration with you. Listen actively and ethically to what your patient has to say. It is best to not interrupt while they are talking and give your undivided attention so you are able to take note of important details. Reflect and repeat back in your own words or paraphrase what you heard your patient say. It ensures that you correctly interpreted their meaning, and so you don’t mishear them and end up doing something wrong.
Ask general questions about their day, like “How was your lunch today?” or start conversations about other topics, such as things happening in the world or something the patient is passionate about. One question that should be avoided asking is “How are you?” This is because your patient will be in a nursing home or hospital, and more than likely they are there because of some sort of sickness or disease. So, although in your eyes it might be something nice to ask, they’re not doing their best, and so they obviously will express that.
Remember that each patient has the right to know what you will be doing to them or helping them with, even if it is something very simple. When explaining, avoid using complicated medical jargon. Instead, speak in plain English so your patient can understand you better. [6] X Expert Source Vlad Gendelman, MDBoard Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon Expert Interview. 17 July 2020. If you need to use some sophisticated medical terminology that they may not be familiar with, be sure to expound on it more while you talk.
It is important to provide or help them with whatever they need as soon as possible. If you are in the midst of something that you must finish, let the patient know. Avoid saying “I will be back in ‘x’ amount of minutes”, as that usually doesn’t happen. Instead tell them you will be there as soon as you can so they don’t have to press their call light over and over. Communicate to your patient that you are on the way to help them by answering their call. Usually, ignoring a patient for greater than 10 minutes is unethical in most situations and breaks the trust between you and your patient. Remember that once you finish your task, it is your job to ensure that the patient is comfortable before you leave the room and it is in the same condition as when you walked in.
Knocking is important because it lets the patient know you are about to enter their room - knock even if the door is open. Knocking and protection of privacy are also parts of showing common courtesy and respect.
“Open” body posture portrays a friendly and positive personality. Holding your head high, back straight, and feet spread wide can help in adding to your confidence as a provider. Engage the patient by using hand gestures, with the palms of your hands facing forward.
Avoid staring or glaring at the patient, but still keep good eye contact. Smiling is also helpful under the right circumstances. Keep facial expressions appropriate for the context. Track your tone of voice. Your tone should be friendly, but also professional. Especially with older adults, it is important to not tone your voice down as if you were talking to a child. You must make sure you maintain a level of respect while talking with older patients.
Feeling and being able to share emotions is an important part of being a CNA. You must be able to deal with your own emotions and keep them within a certain boundary as you proceed through any difficult moments with the patient. You will feel emotions ranging from anxiety to joy. Sometimes the most challenging aspect is managing them. Seek feedback from others who have experience dealing with complex emotions to try and alleviate stress.
Concern for the patient is dependent on your ability to care for them, and will allow you to engage with them in a way that will portray compassion. Perspective will allow you to identify not only the emotions of the patient, but help in understanding them better as a whole.
Your main job is to provide the patient with basic nursing care, as well as comfort and safety. So, you should put differing opinions aside and keep an open perspective when possible. Learning more about what your patient believes, as well as how to respect those ideas, is an important facet in communication.
Kindness and compassion builds a trust like no other. Whether it’s through words, a smile, or your touch, it helps you and your patient be empathetic with each other. Feelings of love and kindness in addition to safety and confidence ends up being one of the most important things during a patient’s recovery. [8] X Research source
