This week I wanted to explore the topic of having those difficult conversations with your resident’s loved ones. I worked over the weekend, and I was faced with having one of these conversations with the two daughters of one of my residents.

Now to my surprise the daughters took the conversation of transitioning their mother to a more palliative care approach very well. They knew that it was coming, and they don’t want to see their mother suffer any longer. However, they also have a brother. They told me that their brother is not so on board with this plan and is denial of their mother’s trajectory with her illnesses.

What do you do when you are faced with family members that are in denial? There is no one answer to this question. All situations will be different and as a nurse we must be adaptable to these various circumstances and family dynamics. Ultimately it is our job to look out for the best interest of our residents while also being a supportive person to their loved ones during this transition period.

My advice to you is this, make sure you use the following skills/techniques when having these difficult conversations; active listening, empathy, cultural sensitivity, and watch for non-verbal cues.

Sincerely Yours,
Nurse Taylor