To be successful in their role, nurses have a long list of skills and traits they must possess. Yet some days it can feel as if they need one more: mind-reading.

Patients aren’t usually the best at communicating what they want. This is somewhat understandable, however, since it’s intimidating to be in any unfamiliar situation, let alone one as stressful as a hospital stay.

1. Transparency

Most of your patients will have limited to no clinical knowledge, which means they might not even know what they don’t know. While they may not fully comprehend the complexities of every procedure or medication, the patient doesn’t want to be kept in the dark about their treatment. You certainly don’t want to overload them with terminology or the mechanics behind each medical device but you also want to keep them as informed as possible.

It’s reasonable to assume “ignorance is bliss” for patients (especially if their treatment is particularly overwhelming) but trying to protect patients by restricting what is communicated regarding their care prevents them from making the best decisions about their treatment.

Make sure the lines of communication are open between the care team and the patient as well as their family. If lab results indicate a change in the patient’s condition (be it minor or major, negative or positive) let the appropriate care team members know as soon as possible so they can inform the patient. If a procedure will be delayed, inform the patient and give them your best estimate of how long they will have to wait.

2. Respect

Every member of the hospital staff has a busy schedule from the moment they walk in the door each day to the moment they leave. Nurses have many patients for which they are responsible, so sometimes small courtesies can be sacrificed in the interest of efficiency. Though the nurse may not intend to offend a patient by quickly entering a room, checking their vitals and moving on, the patient may not realize the full scope of the nurse’s responsibilities and interpret this as disrespectful.

Nurses and other healthcare providers can do a few simple things to show respect to patients:

• Knocking before entering a patient’s room
• Introducing him or herself
• Addressing the patient by his or her preferred name
• Explaining the purpose of their visit
• Ensuring the patient understands how to contact a nurse and navigate the hospital

Patients also want to be consulted on their condition and have their concerns acknowledged. While sometimes patients may feel it necessary to share information that isn’t necessarily relevant to their treatment, they’ll still appreciate you taking the time to listen to what they have to say. Plus, a minor complaint they happen to mention in passing might indicate a more serious issue that may have gone unnoticed had the patient not brought up the symptom.

3. An Invitation to be Involved

Inviting patients and their families to be actively involved in making decisions about the patient’s treatment is an important part of patient-centered care. Provide patients with helpful resources and tools and help guide them through the decision-making process. Patients want to feel as if they are truly a part of their care team and aren’t simply following orders over which they have no say.

Ensure the patient feels comfortable asking questions. Encouraging patients to ask questions allows them to feel more in control of their care and helps prevent potential treatment compliance issues due to misunderstandings.

Not only will this practice help patients, but research by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has also shown that engaging patients and their families had the following benefits for hospitals:

• Enhanced financial performance
• Higher CAHPS scores
• Better patient outcomes

Ultimately, your goal as a nurse is to provide the best experience for your patients. You’re committed to administering high-quality care and being candid, showing respect and encouraging involvement can also help increase patient satisfaction.