Breaking Bad News Reflection
There are some benefits associated with providing relatives and patients with realistic and honest information. Breaking bad news turns out a difficult task for any healthcare provider as it is distressing and emotionally shocking to the bearer and recipient (Shahanjarini et al, 2019). Therefore, the whole process is considered difficult because there may be concerns and reluctance on the part of the information which will require that healthcare raise a discussion on the subject which may lead to a strong emotional response. The family and patient’s reaction is unpredictable and may include threatening behaviors, anger, verbal abuse, hysteria, and tears and this raises a good reason why healthcare providers need to reflect on how to break bad news (Rycroft, 2018).
Healthcare providers need to ensure informed consent to patients by making the communication effective by being open thus creating trust which increases the patient’s confidence making it easy in asking questions (Butts & Rich, 2019). Additionally, it makes it easy for relatives in making decision based on realistic insight on their situation. Therefore, healthcare providers need to break the news in understandable language, ensure a piece of tailored information, provide as much information as required by the relatives, and allow time for reflection to the patients. Furthermore, caregivers can use tools that facilitate communication of the bad news to both relatives and patients for instance by making sure they are familiar with the patient medical history, determining the patient’s level of knowledge about the condition as well as ensuring that there is enough time to interact. Despite the process of breaking news being difficult if well-handled a strong relationship is developed between the caregivers, relatives, and patients.
References
Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2019). Nursing Ethics. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Karimi‐Shahanjarini, A., Shakibazadeh, E., Rashidian, A., Hajimiri, K., Glenton, C., Noyes, J., … & Colvin, C. J. (2019). Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of doctor‐nurse substitution strategies in primary care: a qualitative evidence synthesis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4).
Rycroft, C. (2018). Anxiety and Neurosis. Routledge.