Tending to patients can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice. Nurses work in patient care and also in customer service. Their scope of work involves maintaining a professional and courteous interpersonal relationship with the patients. However challenging this role may seem at times, it is considered important for ensuring overall health and wellbeing.
It is imperative for nurses to have a healthy relationship with the patients. Things such as greeting the patient with respect, making eye contact while communicating, and displaying confidence are all considered an important part of professionalism. While the nursing study in Canada goes on, nurses are encouraged to prioritize bonding with patients because that plays an important role in the course of treatment.
We often think of nursing care as a series of administering treatments and medications. However, the fact is that good nursing care is much more than only addressing physical conditions. It is about connecting with patients in ways that enable them to embrace recovery.
Some of the best nursing professionals know that forming a strong relationship with patients is an important part of succeeding as a nurse. In case you are considering beginning a nursing career or if you wish to advance your career by enrolling in a nursing course in Canada then understanding the importance of a nurse-patient relationship can be of great value.
Importance of a Nurse-Patient Bond in Healthcare:
Strong bonding between a nurse and a patient has proven to affect the health-related outcomes of patients considerably. Positive therapeutic relationships include showing empathy, building trust, advocating for the patient, offering valuable feedback, and also responding to the needs of the patient. This type of professional relationship has the ability to enhance patient satisfaction and the entire nursing experience.
If you are a nurse who is about to embark on a new journey by enrolling for a scholarship for international students in Canada then you should take comfort in knowing that nursing can be an exceptionally rewarding career path. That said, you must also understand that nurses are often pushed to physical and emotional extremes which can eventually be hard on individuals working in the nursing field.
If you take some time to communicate with experienced nurses, you will probably understand the importance of establishing healthy relationships with patients. Strong bonding with patients is not only good for healing the patient but also benefits the mental health of the nurses. It helps nursing professionals to find a perfect balance between compassionate care and professionalism while connecting with patients who are getting treated.
Advantages of Good Nurse-Patient Bonding:
Many studies have gone on to indicate the relationship between a healthcare provider and a patient can directly have an impact on healthcare outcomes. This basically means that the way in which nurses interact with their patients, outside the scope of just offering medical care can have a huge impact on the overall recovery.
This is applicable in many healthcare situations. For instance, if there is a patient suffering from mental illness then a good bond between a nurse and that patient can have a massive impact on enhancing the recovery at a quick rate. In another situation where a patient might feel scared while going through a medical procedure might only be looking for support and in this case, if a nurse helps the patient feel optimistic then there is a good chance that a patient will experience less pain and recover more quickly.
The direct correction between a nurse-patient relationship and quality of care is so strong that the best nursing colleges in Canada recommend all the nurses follow patient-centric care. Nurses are advised to be respectful, responsive, and take into account individual preferences and needs while looking after patients.
Ways to Build Nurse-Patient Bonding:
There are several ways in which strong nurse-patient bonding can be ensured. These things might seem basic but when it comes to putting them into nursing practice, they can really make a tangible difference in the overall patient care outcomes while ensuring a successful career of nursing in abroad.
- Introducing Yourself: Nurses should begin by introducing themselves with a handshake and telling the patients a little about themselves to break the ice. Interactive things such as asking the patients to tell something about themselves, their likes and dislikes, and preferences can be a great way to make the introduction session fruitful.
This will not just reflect excellent interpersonal skills but also a desire to know the patients as a person. In addition, this information can also help nurses in caring for patients.
- Effective Communication: The importance of practicing effective communication is taught to nurses right when they are in the process of completing their study nursing in Canada. This is because effective communication is very important in dealing with the patient.
The nurses can practice effective communication by maintaining eye contact and repeating important information that the patient tells. This will not just help in improving the patient relationship but it also helps in improving the patient experience. This way, the patients know that the nurse is indeed listening and understanding while still focusing on professional boundaries.
- Patient Experience: For bonding with the patients, nurses should enhance the quality of the patient experience. They should make sure that the basic needs of the patients are met and they are fulfilled comfortably.
The patients are unlikely to communicate their needs verbally. In fact, in many cases they are often hurting, sad, confused, and depressed while being unwilling to say the same. To counter this, one should pay close attention to nonverbal clues like body language, eating habits, and other actions. This helps in understanding what the patient really needs.
- Being There: There is no doubt that nursing is a busy job and one can get into a rush easily. However, nurses should keep in mind that their patients need them consistently. Hence, entering the room of a patient with a smile, taking a deep breath, and giving the patient complete attention are important.
Maintaining eye contact is also important and so are the facial expressions that play an important role in communicating compassion and concern for the well-being of patients. Presenting themselves often to check up on the patients while being sure of their smiles helps a lot in the patient’s recovery and creating a successful career of nursing in Canada.
- Caring for Patients: Nonverbal communication skills play an equally important role as verbal communication does during patient care. Nurses should stay in the rooms of patients for a little longer to interact with them and their loved ones.
This helps in building a rapport and creating a personal relationship with patients while also connecting with them on an emotional level. Showing the patients how caring you are encourages the patients to trust the nurses increasingly.
- Respecting Patients: At the time when a patient is sharing his/her problem or is hooked up to medical equipment, it is possible to feel embarrassed, vulnerable, and sometimes even demeaned. Nurses must take that into sincere consideration while tending to a sick patient while going out of the way to show respect.
This includes making sure that the patients have privacy when they feel the need for it. The more a nurse makes a patient feel valued and honoured, the better a nurse-patient relationship will be.
Other than the points mentioned above, little things such as making the patients laugh can play a positive role in bringing a light-hearted state of being. You never know what turmoil a patient might be caught in. While some may be worried about the medical bills, some patients might be struggling with mental blockages because of stress, and some others might be in pain because of a treatment.
Nurses should understand that light-heartedness can go a long way in leaving a positive impact on the patient. As a nurse practitioner, one can be comforting, compassionate, and caring while also maintaining a professional relationship with a new patient.
Improving Nursing Skills for Better Patient Care:
Primarily, there are two methods that play an important role in improving nursing skills and they include experience and education. If a nurse is a student who is trying to gain a competitive edge in the career then enrolling in some of the good nursing colleges in Canada can play an important role. On the other hand, if you are a nurse who has been practicing for some time then remember that the more you work the more you will experience and the more proficient you will become.
Conclusion:
When the patients seek a health care service or get hospitalized, many of them are often not as familiar with the process or something as simple as what to expect. In case a healthy nurse-patient relationship is formed in the beginning, the nurses can assist the patients to feel better and participate in care.
As the healthcare professionals who are on the frontline of healthcare, nurses must prioritize relationships built on trust and respect because that goes a long way in enhancing a patient’s overall health.
