What To Do When You Have Bad News For Patients

Have you had to give a patient bad news? Did you feel prepared or scared? It is a necessary part of being a Nurse Practitioner, and it’s always going to be challenging, but it is better if you are prepared.

 

Not all bad news is created the same. In some cases, bad news is life changing information, but in other cases, it might be life limiting information. What we might consider serious news, like a new diagnosis of diabetes, might be catastrophic to the patient. Doing our best to understand and anticipate the patient’s perspective will benefit us both.

This week, we have a video that covers so much of the ins and outs of delivering bad news to your patient. We will talk about all of the things to consider when you have these conversations with your patient. We’ll cover:

 

How to prepare yourselfHow to prepare the settingHow to have the actual conversation with the patientThe difference that trauma-informed care can make in having these difficult conversations with patientsA framework to guide the experience for you and the patientSome specific language to use in these conversations

Getting and giving bad news is always tough; having a plan for the visit will make a big difference. Develop a plan for follow up and next steps with the patient before you give them the news will also make a big difference. Using as much empathy as you can, keep the patient at the center of the conversation and give space for any emotions that might show up.

If you liked this post, also check out:

How To Make A Plan of Care For New Nurse PractitionerChronic Care Conversations Medical Decision Making and Referral for New Nurse Practitioners 

Read the full blog here.

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:06 - Establish Framework (SPIKES)

02:12 - Setting Up

04:41 - Perception

05:56 - Invitation

07:48 - Knowledge

13:12 - Emotions and Empathy

13:41 - Strategy/Summary

15:32 - PEARL of Practice

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