Nurses play a pivotal role in the healthcare arena. Their roles and responsibilities include providing medical care, assisting patients with day-to-day tasks, educating the patients and their families about the best healthcare practices, keeping medical records, and much more.

One other key thing that private nurses can provide patients with is emotional support. The emotional and mental well-being of the patient can impact the success rate of the treatment that they are receiving and a good nurse knows that very well. 

So, if you are aspiring to be a nurse then you need to know that it is as important for you to give your patients emotional support as it is to give them basic medical assistance.  

In this article, we will explore ways in which a private nurse can provide emotional support to their patient.

Here is what we will be covering in this article

• Understanding the Importance of providing emotional support to your patients
• Emotional Support That a Nurse Can Provide such as:
• Active Listening
• Compassion and Empathy
• Giving a Safe Space
• Helping the Patients Deal with Trauma
• Prepare Them for Treatment
• Help them Get Used to the Hospital Environment
• Give Them Quality Company.

The Importance of Providing Emotional Support to Your Patients

If a patient is consistently being provided with emotional support, they feel more connected with their healthcare team and that evokes positive emotional responses in them.

Since nurses spend more time interacting with and taking care of their patients, they can more closely pay attention to the behaviors and responses of the patients. This allows them to identify when their patients are feeling vulnerable and depressed.

The psychosocial health of the patients can suffer a blow due to an injury, disease, or trauma and that is where the emotional support provided by a nurse can help them stay positive and recover faster.  

During the time of illness, a patient needs both medical assistance as well as emotional support and that is why every nurse needs to pay attention to this important matter.

The role of patience in caregiving workers and the emotional support they provide is very crucial and the following are a few ways a nurse can provide these things to a patient.

Emotional Support That a Nurse Can Provide

Active Listening

A nurse can provide emotional support by actively listening to the fears, concerns, and anxieties of their patients. They can lend them a compassionate ear which allows patients to express their true feelings.

To actively listen you can give your patients undivided attention and maintain eye contact, encourage them to express how they really feel, and then reflect on what they have just said to show them you care. You can also nod and use appropriate facial expressions to show them you are attentive.

Compassion and Empathy

There is nothing a patient needs more than compassion and empathy. Simple acts like a gentle reassuring touch and a comforting word can improve the emotional state of the patients in an instant.

Empathy and compassion allow nurses to show genuine concern about the health of the patients and validate the emotions of the patients.

You can show your patients compassion by using a warm tone and gentle physical touch in difficult emotional situations.

Giving a Safe Space

Nurses can create a safe space for patients where they can say anything they want without the fear of being judged. They can ensure their patients that there is nothing to be embarrassed about and they don’t need to feel vulnerable when talking to you.

A nurse can provide patients with a safe space by respecting their personal boundaries and cultural beliefs, and by creating a confidential and private environment where they can share their thoughts and feelings.

Helping the Patients Deal with Trauma

If your patient is suffering from a serious illness or they have just gone through a traumatic experience, it is your duty as a nurse to show them how they can deal with these unfortunate circumstances.

They can try to meet the physiological and emotional needs of their patients by helping them deal with fear, confusion, anxiety, and uncertainty regarding their illness. This can help them stay positive and focus on recovery rather than their traumatic experiences.

Prepare Them for Treatment

The roles and responsibilities of a healthcare assistant or nurse also involve educating patients about the processes involved in the treatment. They can tell them why certain medications are needed and what they can expect before, during, and after a surgical procedure.

A good nurse can tell the patients about the side effects of certain treatments and the ways they can minimize them. They can also answer every question from the patient so that they are completely ready for the treatment.

Help them Get Used to the Hospital Environment

It is not easy to adjust yourself in a hospital environment and you need all the emotional support you can get at this time. As a nurse, you can help your patient move around the ward, get the lay of the land, and introduce them to the staff and their medical team.

You can help them settle in their rooms and encourage them to take part in various activities organized by the hospital. This helps patients feel relaxed and at home even in the unfamiliar and rather different settings of a hospital.

Give Them Quality Company

Every patient needs good company so that they can stop thinking about what is ailing them and stay cheerful and energetic. A nurse can do that by talking to their patients in a friendly manner, playing games with them, and watching TV.

Thus, a nurse can prevent the patients from feeling isolated or alone and that can reflect positively on their mood and overall health.  

Conclusion

Nurses are much more than healthcare providers since they are responsible for both the physical and mental well-being of their patients. A good nurse can prove to be an emotional pillar that can help patients go through extremely tough times.

A private nurse can provide emotional support by actively listening to their patients, preparing them mentally for what is to come, giving them quality company, and making sure the patient doesn’t feel sad, depressed, or lonely during their treatment.

Nurses who take the time to provide their patients with much-needed emotional support are real unsung heroes of healthcare and their dedication and effort are truly commendable.

Visit MediGIG to be a part of a professional team of healthcare workers and make a real difference in the world through your service.