Study Set Content:
· Talk with the patient about his or her beliefs and work to integrate the patient’s beliefs into the prescribed regimen.
CULTURALLY DIVERSE PATIENTS
· Take the time to engage elderly patients in unhurried conversation.
ELDERLY PATIENTS
· Speak slowly and distinctly, and avoid youth-oriented vernacular or slang.
ELDERLY PATIENTS
Written communication and the use of point and spell letter boards can be time consuming but often are the only means for two-way communication
MUTE PATIENTS
· Treat elderly patients with respect. Do not assume that every elderly person has impaired hearing.
ELDERLY PATIENTS
· Speak directly to the patient and do not assume that the patient is incompetent or that the person accompanying the patient is a caregiver or guardian.
ELDERLY PATIENTS
· Encourage these techniques and allow sufficient time for adequate communication.
MUTE PATIENTS
· Use large-print labels and printed materials and reinforce written information with verbal communication.
ELDERLY PATIENTS
In addition, maintain your end of the conversation and do not limit your verbal responses just because the patient is mute.
MUTE PATIENTS
Touching the patient lightly on the arm or shoulder may reassure the patient and reinforce the context of the conversation.
ELDERLY PATIENTS
· Be sensitive to the potential of patients to have hearing impairment.
HEARING IMPAIRED PATIENTS
· Communicate clearly and directly with mentally retarded patients
MENTALLY RETARDED PATIENTS
· Do not assume that all people with hearing impairment can read lips or understand American Sign Language (ASL);
HEARING IMPAIRED PATIENTS
· However, communicate directly and clearly with the patient’s caregiver.
MENTALLY RETARDED PATIENTS
· Do not assume that a hearing aid returns the patient’s hearing to normal.
HEARING IMPAIRED PATIENTS
· Do not assume that hearing impaired patients have diminished intellectual abilities.
HEARING IMPAIRED PATIENTS
· Look beyond these issues and communicate clearly and directly with each patient as an individual, regardless of the patient’s status.
HARD-TO-REACH PATIENTS
· Help illiterate patients organize complex medication regimens by using different-sized bottles for each medication or color-coding the labels.
HARD-TO-REACH PATIENTS
Be sensitive to the cost of medications and the ability of the patient to pay for the medication
HARD-TO-REACH PATIENTS
ANGRY PATIENTS
· Assertiveness techniques may be useful in dealing with patients who are angry or aggressive include the following:
Ø Language ownership
Ø Specificity
