Ch. 11 Patient Interactions

Advance Directive

Legal document prepared by a living, competent adult to provide guidance to the health care team if the individual should become unable to make decisions regarding their medical care; May also be called a living will or durable power of attorney for health care. Sometimes a durable power of attorney is given to another person because a person simply does not want to make any of these decisions themself

Communication

Exchange of information, thoughts, or messages; includes interpersonal rapport; Also includes the accurate conveyance of information, clear self-expression, and transmission of information and ideas to others. Medical charting and documentation are forms of communication between healthcare professionals

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Ability to evaluate, perceive, and control emotions

Gerontology (geriatrics)

Pertaining to the study of aging and diseases of older adults

Inpatient

Someone who has been admitted to the hospital for diagnostic studies or treatment

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Model of human needs developed by Abraham Maslow, original hierarchy identifies two types of needs: deficiency and growth needs were further divided into 7 levels, 4 at the deficiency needs level (physiologic, safety, belongingness and love, and esteem) and 3 in the upper growth needs level (need to know and understand, aesthetic, and self-actualization); the current hierarchy reflects 5 levels, 2 at the base reflecting the basic needs, 2 in the middle section reflecting psychological needs, and the top, which reflects self-fulfillment needs

Nonverbal Communication

Exchange of information, thoughts, or messages using methods other than the actual words of speech—for example, tone of voice, speed of speech, facial expressions, and position of the speaker's extremities and torso (body language)

Outpatient

Patient who comes to a health care facility for diagnosis or treatment but does not usually occupy a bed overnight

Palpation

Application of light pressure with the fingers

Paralanguage

Music of language; cadence and rhythm of speech

Patient Assessment

Objective evaluation and determination of the status of a patient

Patient Autonomy

Ability and right of patients to make independent decisions regarding their medical care

Verbal Communication

Messages sent using spoken words; the exchange of information or thoughts; can be dramatically shaped by vocabulary, clarity, tone, pitch of voice, and even the organization of sentences

Non-accidental Trauma (NAT)

Physical child abuse

Primary Aging

The gradual and inevitable process of deterioration that begins in childhood and extends through old age

Secondary Aging

Consists of disease, abuse, and disuse, which are often within control of the individual

Patience and Respect

Cardinal Rules when dealing with geriatric patients

Mutual Pretense

When patient, staff, and family are aware of terminal ill condition but are pretending not to know in hopes of avoiding interpersonal conflicts

Denial and Isolation

Initial stage reactions to a terminal diagnosis. Should be supported by silence and acceptance of the person without discussing death

Anger

Result of the realization that life will be interrupted before everything the person planned has been accomplished

Bargaining stage

Focuses on hope and may be based in religion

Depression

Occurs when remission ends and additional treatments begin

Preparatory depression

The realization of the inevitability of death and is accompanied by a desire for death as a release from suffering

Acceptance

The final stage, occurs only if enough time is provided and if the patient is appropriately helped through the other stages. This stage is characterized by a near-total lack of feelings

Self Actualization (Highest level of Maslows Hierarchy of needs)

Characterized by confidence in who the person is and what person’s goals are in life

Belongingness and Love (Third Level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs)

Students often begin at what level of Maslow’s Needs