Key Terms
Therapeutic communication
The specific techniques and strategies nurses use to establish a therapeutic relationship with patients and promote pati
Message
The thought or content someone wishes to convey.
Verbal communication
Delivering a message using words.
Nonverbal communication
Conveying a message without words; includes facial expression, body language, tone of voice, and personal space.
Active listening
Listening with intent to understand and discern; involves verifying understanding with the speaker. KEY difference from
Passive listening
Not verifying understanding; assuming you understood without confirming.
Competitive listening
Focused on sharing your own point of view instead of listening to the other person.
Cultural awareness
Recognizing the characteristics of your own culture and others' cultures, and the differences between them.
Cultural humility
A lifelong process of examining your own cultural beliefs and adopting a humble, respectful attitude when learning about
Health literacy
An individual's ability to obtain, understand, and apply basic health information to make informed decisions about their
Transparency
Being open and honest with patients about their health conditions, treatment options, and potential outcomes; using plai
Validate
Reassure a patient that their emotions are natural and reasonable and that their problems are understood and will be ful
Nontherapeutic communication
Patterns or techniques that have negative effects on the therapeutic relationship and patient well-being.
Adaptive questioning (guided questioning)
Open-ended questioning where follow-up questions adjust based on the patient's previous answers; starts general, gets mo
Open-ended questioning
Questions that prompt detailed answers; contrast with closed-ended questions that yield yes/no responses.