Communication Barriers Flashcards
An attitude where people make assumptions about intellegence or character based on ability to hear, speak, or write a spoken language
Audism
One of the most common barriers deaf people face in the healthcare system
Health Literacy
Hospitals must provide effective means of communication for patients, family members, and hospital visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing
Americans with Disability Act
Who should book an interpreter?
The Medical Facility
What language should you use when talking to a patient?
Every day language, specific’s in a way
What is a way to tell directions to someone who is visually impaired?
Tell directions like a clock
What should you do if you think a patient needs help?
Ask first before you help, do not assume you know better
What should you avoid when talking to a patient in order for them to hear you clearly?
Competing noise
What should you do before you do something to a patient?
Announce what you’re going to do
You should ______ ___________ for the patients if necessary
Modify Instructions
What can change the way you see your patients?
Smelling
What can allow you to taste things?
Tastebuds
Back of the tongue can allow you to taste ______ ______
Bitter foods
Sides of the tongue can allow you to taste ____ _____
Sour foods
Corners of the tongue can allow you to taste _____ _____
Salty foods
Tip of the tongue can allow you to taste _____ _____
Sweet foods
What can be severly altered if people no longer derive pleasure from eating?
Their appetite
What could lead to depression and weight loss?
Loosing your sense of smell or taste
Badly distort taste and smell
Parosmia
The ability to think logically and clearly
Cognitive
Not being able to think logically and clearly
Cognitive Impairment
What is normal for older people to loose?
Some ability to think logically
The inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do
Confusion
Causes of _________ are:
UTI’s
Low blood sugar
Head trauma/injury
Dehydration
Nutritional problems
Fever
Sudeen drop in body temperature
Disease
Illness
Loss of sleep
Seizures
Confusion
What should you not do to a confused patient/resident?
Do not leave them alone
Introduce yourself
Explain what you’re going to do
Be patient
Do not rush the patient/resident
Promote self care
What should you do with a confused patient?
What should you not allow a confused patient to have access to?
Cleaning agents or personal care products
A state of severe confusion that occurs suddenly and is usually temporary
Delirium
Causes of ________ are:
Infections
Disease
Fluid Imbalance
Poor nutrition
Drugs
Alcohol
Delirium
Symptoms of ________ are:
Agitation
Anger
Depression
Irritability
Disorientation
Trouble focusing
Problems with speech
Changes in sensation and perception
Changes in consciousness
Decrease in short term memory
Delirium
A general term that refers to a serious progressive loss of mental abilities such as thinking, rememberng, reasoning, and communication
Dementia
Something that continously gets worse or deteriorates
Progressive
Something that continuously gets worse (higher to lower)
Degenerative
In medicine, the first appearances of the signs or symptoms of an illness
Onset
Unable to be reversed or returned to the original state
Irreversible
________ is not a normal part of aging
Dementia
The ____________ and ________ ____ puts pressure on the patient and their family when testing for Dementia. These tests can be a CT or MRI scan.
Neurological and Physical Exam
A progressive, incurable disease where the brain slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. It eventually develops to where one cannot even do the most simplest tasks.
Alzheimers
__________ is a common cause of Dementia in the elderly
Alzheimers
__________ _______ is not a normal part of aging
Alzheimers Disease
The _____ of __________ is currently unknown
Cause of Alzheimers
Each person shows _________ ________ of Alzheimers
Differnet Symptoms
The average lifespan of someone with Alzheimers can range from __-__ years but could be as long as __ years
4-8 years
20 years
Stages of Alzheimers:
1. Mild (Early stage)
May show some ______ ____, forgetting some _____ and the location of familiar _______
May still be ___________ and able to work, drive, and do other activities
Memory loss
Words
Objects
Independent
Stages of Alzheimers:
2. Moderate (Middle-stage)
Generally the stage with the ______ ________
May forget some ____ ___________ and personal __________
Personality and ________ may change
May be moody or withdrawn
Can experience changes in _____ patterns
Confusion about time and place
May need some help with ADL’s (__________ __ _____ ______) such as choosing appropriate clothing
Longest duration
Past experiences
Background
Behavior
Sleep
Activities of Daily Living
Stages of Alzheimers:
3. Severe (Late-stage)
May be unable to ___________ with others, control movement or _______ to surroundings
Need significant help with ADL’s (__________ __ _____ ______) including eating and eliminating
Ability to walk, sit, and __________ may be affected
Communicate
Respond
Activities of Daily Living
Swallowing
When the sun goes down, their personality changes
Sundown
The repetition of words, phrases, questions or actions
Perseveration
Communication Tips:
Approach from the _____
Smile/Look happy to see the residents
Determine ___ _____ the patient/resident wants you to be
Communicate in a room with little background _____/___________
Always _______ yourself
Use patient’s/resident’s name
Speak ______ using a _____ tone
______ yourself as often as needed
Talk about ___ subject at a time UseSigns/________/Gestures/Written _____ to help communicate
Break complex tasks into _______ _______ ones
Front
How close
Noise/Distractions
Introduce
Slowly, Low
Repear
One
Pictures
Words
Smaller Simpler
If patient/resident is frightened or anxious:
Speak ______ using a _____ tone
Get rid of _____/____________
Try to see and hear yourself as _________ might
Slowly, Low
Noise/Distractions
Residents
If patient/resident forgets or has memory loss:
______ words, using the ____ words
Repeat
Same
If patient/resident has trouble finding words or names:
Suggest a word that sounds _______
Try not to _______ a resident who uses an _________ word
Correct
Correct
Incorrect
If patient/resident has basic instructions/questions:
Ask patient/resident to ______ ____ _____
Be knowledged of ____________ _______ and use them
Watch for _________ ____
Use _____,Pictures,________, or Written words
Repeat your words
Communication methods
Nonverbal Cues
Signs
Gestures
If patient/resident does not remember basic tasks:
Break activity into _______, _______ _____
Smaller, Simpler tasks
If patient/resident insists on doing something that is unsafe/not allowed:
Limit the number of times you say _____
________ instead
Don’t
Redirect
If patient/resident is hallucinating/ paranoid/accusing:
Do not take it _________
Try to ________ behavior or ______ it
Do not give in to the ______________ ( it can make it worse)
Personally
Redirect
Ignore
Hallucinations
If patient/resident is depressed or lonely:
Take time one-on-one to ask ___ _____ _______
______ to the response
Involve resident in __________
Report depression to the _____
How they’re feeling
Listen
Activities
Nurse
If patient/resident repeatedly asks to go home:
Ask what their ____ ___ ____ and how they ____ _____ _____
Redirect to something they _____
Expect questions to ________
Be _______ and be gentle with _________
Home was like
Felt being there
Enjoy
Continue
Patient
Responses
If patient/resident is being verbally abusive/ saying profanity:
Remember- It is the ________ speaking, not the person (Sometimes)
______ the language
_______ their attention
Dementia
Ignore
Redirect
If patient/resident lost verbal skills:
Use _________ skills (touches, smiles, and laughter(with not at them))
Use Signs/______/Gestures
Assume people can __________ more than they can _______
Nonverbal
Labels
Understand
Express
Make sure to develop a _______ and stick with it
Routine
Spoken or Written
Verbal Cues
Sign language is included in Verbal Cues
T/F
True
Body Language or Gestures
NonVerbal Cues
Letting multiple people participate in the decision-making process
Democratic Leadership
A management style where in one person controls all the decisions and takes very little inputs from other group members
Autocratic Leader
What should you do when a patient/resident is agitated?
Remove all triggers
What should you do when a patient/resident acts sexually inappropriate?
Move them into a private room
What are Objective and Subjective in tracking data?
Objective- Data that refers to measurable, quantifitable information such as blood pressure and heart rate. What you see.
Subjective- Data where the information that comes from the patient themselves such as pain level or symptoms
What is a common communication practice used in medical?
Sender, Message, Reciever, and Feedback
