Nurses today often face the challenge of an angry patient. Nurses usually work directly with patients much more than doctors, so they are usually the ones that are on the receiving end of this anger. This anger can be verbal, passive, aggressive or even physical. Luckily though, nurses are already trained to understand and recognize anger, and in turn, they can communicate effectively with the patient than any other health professionals.
Here are some useful tips on maximizing your skills for quality nursing care.
- Focus on your patient’s fear. A nurse should always respond in a therapeutic way, so that they can continue cultivating a shared relationship. Instead of focusing on the patient’s anger, a nurse should put his or her focus on why the patient feels this way. The nurse hopes to let the patient know that they are there to care for and support them. The nurse should focus on interaction with your patient, instead of reacting to a patient’s anger.
- Recognize patient’s anger. You should always acknowledge anger, rather than ignore it. This is a great opportunity to allow the patient to talk about his feelings of frustration. This is helpful for an angry patient who is normally quiet or withdrawn. A nurse should talk to them openly and ask them what the problem is noting that they seem specifically quiet and ask if they want to talk about anything at all. This way, the nurse is opening up a safe environment to speak about what is truly troubling them. Their anger could be due to fear of the illness they have or that they are feeling powerless over their health.
- Provide support. A nurse who is empathetic and understanding of any fears/feelings is what a patient needs most. A nurse is a safety net, and they provide the environment in which the patient should feel free to express feelings. Because the nurse is the one responsible for his care, it is best to always calm the patient down and work collaboratively with them.
- Help your patient regain his strengths. With an angry patient, a great nurse can turn the tables by focusing on their strengths and what they are capable of rather than their sickness. The nurse knows that their anger could very well be a statement of frustration over the loss of control they have in being healthy. The nurse can help the patient regain some of their sense of control and make them feel much better about themselves.
Most nurses have been the receiver of a patient’s anger. Once they recognize the true cause of anger and understand their feelings, they can provide a better quality nursing care even with angry patients who are like dry ice in hot water.