As you saw in these scenes, anytime we talk to patients and families about serious illness, emotions are almost always a central part of the conversation. Though our focus is often on delivering medical information, we can’t afford to overlook emotions because they play a critical role in how people receive and act upon the information we provide.
In other words, acknowledging emotions is about much more than just showing empathy. It is a critical step in helping patients and families participate in decision making. Our ability to respond effectively to emotion can often make or break these encounters.
© 2016 University of Washington | School of Nursing | L&IT Learning Technologies | Palliative Care Training Center.
Caroline Hurd, MD,
Lindsay Gibbon, MD,
Anthony Back, MD
