Nurses' Experiences of Communicating With Hospitalized, Suddenly Speechless Patients

Bibliographic Data

ID4655158
AuthorsCarmen S Rodríguez (0000-0002-0096-995X, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA), Heather J Spring (University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA), Meredeth Rowe (University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA), Meredeth A Rowe (University of South Florida)
Year2015
Volume25
Issue2
Pages168-178
Publication date2015-02-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732314550206
PMID25225048
OpenAlexW2130049560
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited26

We used a qualitative focus group design to explore the experiences and challenges of nurses who work with hospitalized patients experiencing the sudden inability to verbalize their needs, also known as sudden speechlessness. In response to open-ended questions in facilitated focus groups, 18 nurses discussed issues around the care and communication needs of suddenly speechless (SS) patients. Nurses identified multiple, commonly occurring communication challenges when caring for SS patients. They believed these challenges led to poorer recognition of patient needs, with the potential for compromised patient care. Nurses described how the lack of reliable strategies to facilitate communication sometimes resulted in negative patient outcomes, including unmet psychosocial needs and the potential that informed consent and educational issues were being inadequately addressed for the SS patients. Even experienced nurses indicated ongoing problems in communicating with SS patients, despite using a multitude of strategies, leaving many to deal with issues of frustration and role conflict

Family medicine · Focus group · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints · Medicine · Nursing · Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare · Psychology

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