Therapeutic communication skills and student nurses in the clinical setting

Patients facing life-altering medical conditions with anxiety, depression, and anger present barriers to optimal care. This article suggests that the nursing student be facilitated through a process of connecting to patients using role playing, cognitive/behavioral techniques, and specific didactic information on how to interpret patient barriers to care. Teaching therapeutic communication using this model could help students respond to the distressed patient, depersonalizing negative messages, and formulating goal-driven relationships within their two-year clinicals.