How do nurses demonstrate active listening?
Listens with one ear. Falls on deaf ears.
What does each of these familiar adages have in common? They describe passive listening, the act of listening without being fully invested in and tuned into the speaker. The opposite of passive listening is active listening, where the hearer is fully engaged. Active listening involves not only hearing words but also receiving, interpreting, and responding to the speaker. An active listener pays complete attention to the person speaking. They note the physical details of the speakers appearance, body language, expressions, etc., which play a crucial role in relaying the fullest meaning of the message. Active listening requires the listener to make a conscious decision and a commitment to be fully present. While we may be reluctant to admit it, passive listening can become a habit. We attempt to convince ourselves and others that we can listen effectively while investing limited attention because we have mastered the art of multitasking. In the world of healthcare, active listening is more than essential; it is critical. Healthcare professionals need to listen with all senses engaged in picking up on the non-verbal clues that will enable them to more accurately assess each patient or scenario they encounter in a given day. The nature of emergency or life-threatening situations can make it more challenging to engage every sense, yet such occasions present an even greater need to utilize active listening. Active, engaged listening benefits everyonepatients and their families, the professionals themselves as well as their co-workers. An attentive, focused-only-on-the-patient healthcare professional can ease the fear and nervousness of an anxious patient. By making eye contact, smiling, and offering a kind word, rather than shuffling through paperwork or doodling on a notepad, a physician, nurse or nurses aide can lessen the patients anxiety. Engaged attention demonstrates that you genuinely care about the patient. 4. It enables better care Active listening is an improvable skill! By practicing active listening, not only will your patients benefit, you will as well. |