Strategies for communication with patient from different cultures(12)

1)Take time to establish patient-nurse relationship and comfort level 2)Ask questions in a calm unhurried manner. Rephrase and ask again if patient answer is inconsistent with prior information 3)Observe cultural differences in communication and honor those differences 4)Ask patient about the meaning of health and illness and their understanding of treatments and planned care. Investigate how the illness is likely to affect their life, relationships, and self-concept. Find out what patients consider the cause of their illness and how they prefer to manage the illness 5)Listen to the patients perception of their needs and respect them 6)Listen actively and attentively(Try not to anticipate patient responses) 7)Talk to Patients in an unhurried manner that considers social and cultural amenities 8)Give patients time to answer 9)Use validation techniques to verify that the patient understands(Be cautious of head nodding and smiles may indicate wanting to please the nurse and not necessarily understanding 10)Sexual concerns may be difficult for patients to discuss(Consider nurse of same gender to facilitate communication 11)Use alternative communication methods such as phrase books, an interpreter or pictures for non-english speaking patients 12)Learn key phrases of languages that are commonly spoken in your community