“Communication. It’s the first thing we really learn in life. Funny thing is, once we grow up, learn our words and really start talking, the harder it becomes to know what to say. Or how to ask for what we really need.” ~ Meredith Grey
Therapeutic communication is a professional, patient-centered, scientific, and goal directed (Halter, 2014). As Meredith Grey mentions that it is easy to learn words but hard to know what to say and how to say it. It is easy for healthcare students to know or remember, communication techniques and interview goals, but hard to know how to implement these techniques or meet these goals. Therapeutic communication is a set of techniques based on a rationale that encourage the expression of feelings, …show more content…
Then she introduces Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her background. This is how a nurse must introduce him- or herself, describe the purpose behind interaction, and give recognition to patient. It indicates nurse’s effort and awareness. Throughout this meeting, Oprah is placing the events in time sequence. She asks questions like what Dr. Taylor’s life was like before the stroke, that morning, after stroke, and after surgery. Placing the events in a sequence helps a patient to connect and understand cause-and-effect of incidents and actions. It enables a person 's recall life before and after a specific diagnosis, episode, or loss in one’s life. Sometimes a patient may find a solution for his or her problem after analyzing patterns of these events. Oprah uses “Uh-huh,” “yeah,” and nodding her head whenever Dr. Taylor answers or expresses herself. This technique is accepting that means the person has been understood without being …show more content…
In this interview, Oprah asks about the same morning Dr. Taylor experienced stroke. Dr. Taylor describes it as a space between being alert and being asleep. Oprah immediately approves that feeling and presence of that space, saying that “I love that space.” As a nurse giving approval without listening whole experience indicates that patient is either right or wrong. This may lead a patient’s focus on pleasing his or her nurse or denying any such experience. Holding brain in her hands, Oprah asks about location and damage by stroke. Dr. Taylor shows the location on left cerebral hemisphere and talks about a golf ball size blood clot. Oprah asks about the functions of left and right hemispheres. Changing the subject leaves the patient ignored, isolated, and confused about his or her expression of thoughts. More therapeutic approach is validating that the patient has been listening and then exploring or clarifying as needed. At the end of this interview, Oprah says, “I am glad that you had stroke.” The writer wonders why is she glad? It is non therapeutic no matter what context she mean to say. Rather, she should empathize with her. If a nurse does not know what to say, then do not say