What Is bed-side manner, in
quality care nursing?
A good bed-side manner is an
important aspect of quality care nursing. It should be demonstrated, at all
times, by every registered nurse, as well as other health care givers,
regardless of the situation at hand. Maintaining professional level nursing
standards in your bed-side manner is vital.
But how can you, as a
registered nurse, know if you have a good bed-side manner? Your patients or
their families may not tell you, at least not with words. There may be times,
when you have to work in isolation or alone and do not get any feedback about
your bed-side manner from other registered nurses or health care professionals.
What is bed-side manner?
"Bedside manner is a term
describing how a healthcare professional handles a patient. A good bedside
manner is typically one that reassures and comforts the patient. Vocal tones,
body language, openness, presence and concealment of attitude may all affect
bedside manner." (1)
Professional standards for
bed-side nursing are normally high, but they can vary, depending upon where one
trains as a registered nurse, as well as with respect to the culture of the
region. Any registered nurse or other health care giver doing bed-side nursing
is continually subjected to scrutiny from many different directions. Registered
nurses, who are still in training, are regularly assessed by their nursing
instructors, professors or teachers. They gradually learn to follow the
examples set by other registered nurses, with regard to their bed-side manner.
With a global shortage of
registered nurses, bed-side manner is an area of growing concern in the nursing
profession, because role models can find themselves under high levels of stress
and burdened with heavy work loads. While a registered nurse's bedside manner
should always be professional regardless of the circumstances, what others
perceive as happening, may seem to demonstrate a less than ideal bed-side
manner. The same thing can happen because of the global economic decline. When
there are cutbacks in funding, there is not only a shortage of nurses, but
there can be a shortage of nursing supplies.
What can you, as a registered
nurse, do to consistently demonstrate a good bed-side manner?
Compassion, care and concern on
the part of registered nurses, are noted by patients and their families,
doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, though nothing may be
said. Honesty, integrity and respect for patients are important with respect to
a nurse's bed-side manner, particularly when patients are seriously ill. Again,
nothing may be stated.
Your words, deeds and actions
reflect your personal level of professionalism, in conjunction with your
bed-side manner. At the same time, remember that you are human and are subject
to things that affects human beings. Demonstrating a perfect bed-side manner is
a goal to strive for, but for human beings perfection remains an ideal, so do
not be too hard on yourself or others.
Before and after you graduate,
self-reflection will show you whether you have a good, bed-side manner. Your
employer and other registered nurses and health care professionals will
evaluate your bed-side manner and level of performance in nursing on a regular
basis. Sometimes patients and family members may tell you that you have a
wonderful bed-side manner, but not always. Other patients or health care
professionals may comment in that regard, but there may be other nurses or care
givers, who are secretly jealous and non-supportive of you and your bed-side
manner.
Many registered nurses work
without any feedback about their bed-side manner. Know that there are ways to
tell if your bed-side manner and nursing skills are up to par. For instance,
does your patient appear to be pleased, content, happy and satisfied with the
level of nursing care that you have been providing for him or her? If not, he
or she may verbalize that reality, continually complain or make negative or
adverse comments to others about you and your bed-side manner. Be aware that
sometimes, it is not possible to please a patient, regardless of how good your
bed-side manner actually is. Nurses have to help other nurses in this regard.
Team nursing is vital when it comes to being supportive of each other.
It will soon be apparent if
your patient has a favorite nurse or one that he or she does not like at all.
Do not expect every one of your patients to like you. Some of them may love you
dearly, while others may not relate to you very well. Make a point of looking
closely at every patient. Ask yourself if he or she appear to be worried,
fretting or overly concerned about specific or non-specific things? Does he or
she look frustrated and angry? Is he or she glaring at you or smiling when
you look directly at him or her? How are you responding to your patients
generally?
Many times, what is actually
stated or voiced by your patient may not be related to his or her actual area
of concern. It may have to do with something different, like the weather and his
or her garden. Nurses always have to help fellow nurses interpret what is being
expressed by patients.
Does your patient appear to be
terrified, alarmed, frightened or in a state of panic about something? The real
issue may be related to another patient or a previous bad experience somewhere
else. Sometimes, it takes a nurse's instinct and intuition to understand what
is going on in a patient's mind. That is not always possible. The patient can
be fearful about many things including his or her surgery, diagnosis, pain,
suffering and loss of mobility. It may also concern family, friends or loved
ones.
There are times when patients
do become appreciative of your bed-side manner and when this happens, it has to
do with some expression of kindness on your part, as a registered nurse. There
may be overt expressions of gratitude from patients, which are not valid, but
rather a way to gain extra attention from the nurses. Each patient scenario is
different. Your patient may appear to be fine with your bed-side manner one day
and totally different another day or at another time. Remember that patients
can be unpredictable and many times, they are ill. They can have good days and
other days that are not so good.
Being honest, sincere and
straightforward with your patients, allows them to see that you are seriously
committed to your profession and that your intention is to give them the best
possible care that you can, regardless of their circumstances. Even when their
situations are serious or when they are dying, they will appreciate the fact
that you deal with them rightly. They will learn that they can trust you and
what you say, even if they are in life threatening situations.
Allow room for your own
thoughts, feelings and reactions, as you begin to reflect upon your bed-side
manner. Observe other registered nurses and see what they do that is different.
Learn from each other. When you observe something that another registered nurse
is doing, that shows he or she has a wonderful bed-side manner, remember that a
word of praise is always in order and much appreciated. For instance, perhaps
he or she is very polite.
You will be recognized as a
registered nurse who acknowledges the importance of a good bed-side manner.
Continue to develop your own bed-side manner, nursing and communication skills.
Attain good listening skills and you will be able to understand what your
patients are saying to you. Observe your patients' body language and be alert
to what you are saying to them, in terms of your own body language and the
words that you use.
A kind word, a wink and a smile
or two, can work wonders with respect to nurse-patient relationships. A good
bed-side nurse-patient relationship always allows room for a chuckle or two and
a little fun, as well as prioritizing excellent nursing care. Praise
your patients when praise is due. Encourage them. Always be gentle and kind,
regardless of what the situation is, at that moment. Try to keep your patient
clean and comfortable, as well as in good body alignment. Speak to your patient
directly, even when there are others in the room.
Be prepared to go that extra
mile, even though you may be weary. It is going to be those little
extras that you do for your patients, that will cause them to openly commend
you for your excellent bed-side manner. But don't worry if they don't, as you
will know in your heart, that you will have done what is right for each one of
them.
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