6 Tips for Communicating with Patients as an NP

Nurse practitioners are great communicators. Because of our time as nurses before we step into the advanced practice role, we gain a lot of experience learning how to talk to patients. But no matter your experience or comfort level with talking to patients, there are always opportunities to become a better communicator!

In this post, we’ll “talk” through six tips for communicating with patients so they feel safe, welcomed, and prepared to make decisions about their health care. 

1. Be prepared to explain your role

Not every patient understands what a nurse practitioner does. They may have questions about why they are seeing you instead of a physician. Or, the patient may not understand how an NP is different from a physician assistant (PA). While you may feel comfortable speaking with patients and ready to care for them, you also need to prepare yourself to explain your role.

For example, I usually say that I’m a nurse with advanced training to be able to care for patients at a higher and more independent level. With that training, I can diagnose and treat many types of acute and chronic illnesses, including writing prescriptions for certain medications.

Patients can easily understand this explanation, and it helps to put them at ease to know more about who you are and what you can do for them.

2. Ask open-ended questions

Asking the right questions to elicit a patient history is a skill that takes time to learn. One of the best communication tips to help with history taking is to ask open-ended questions.

What does that mean? Basically, asking questions that can’t be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” This type of approach to questioning allows for deeper discussion with the patient. It also helps to avoid bias from the provider since that question doesn’t lean towards a specific answer.

For example, let’s say an adult patient is reporting abdominal pain. Asking open-ended questions allows the patient to tell their story:

“Can you describe the pain for me?” (You can still give examples: sharp, dull, cramping, etc.)

“What seems to make the pain better?”

“What seems to make the pain worse?”

3. Avoid jargon

Another important thing to remember when communicating with patients is to avoid medical jargon. That’s all the fancy medical terms and slang that we use as healthcare professionals to communicate with each other.

For example, I can easily use “CHF” and “hypertension” in a sentence to a colleague, but a patient may not have any idea what I’m talking about. And that’s not even getting into the really fun words like sphygmomanometer or electroencephalogram or choledocholithiasis!

I’ve been an NP for almost 10 years, and I still find myself using medical jargon with patients from time to time. It happens! Just make sure you’re giving the patient the opportunity to ask questions and clarify anything they don’t understand. 

4. Check that the patient understands

And that thought leads us right into the next communication tip. A lot of what we do as NPs includes patient education and teaching them how to care for themselves or a loved one.

It’s important that you don’t overwhelm the patient with a lot of information at once. For example, if you are educating a patient that was recently diagnosed with diabetes, you might find it helpful to break things down by category. Maybe start with how to check blood sugar, then talk about signs and symptoms of hypo- and hyperglycemia, then move into basic nutrition.

You’ll want to provide opportunities for the patient to ask questions and for you to assess their understanding. After each section, stop and ask the patient if they have any questions. You can also ask them to repeat information back to you so that you can make sure they understand.

Lastly, at the very end of the appointment, ask one more time if they have any remaining questions. I do this at every visit, whether it’s for a quick follow-up or after diagnosing a new condition. It will make the patient feel more comfortable and not rushed while also allowing time for proper education.

5. Practice active listening

Almost as important as the words you say are the actions you do. Active listening is a way of paying attention to someone, understanding both verbal and nonverbal cues, and showing the other person that you are invested in the conversation.

In the healthcare setting, when a provider, like an NP, demonstrates active listening with a patient, the patient will feel both seen and heard.

Some tips for active listening include:

Minimize distractions

Stay focused on the patient and make eye contact with them. Don’t be distracted by your phone or writing in the chart. Make sure the setting for the conversation is quiet and allows for privacy.

Pay attention to your body language

Are you showing the patient that you’re listening to what they’re saying? You can nod your head and make small comments like “yes” and “okay” to encourage the patient to continue. Also, try not to fidget or cross your arms. Sit comfortably in your chair facing the patient. Think about the nonverbal cues you’re giving.

We listen and we don’t judge

If we want our patients to speak with us honestly, we need to create a safe space for them. We cannot judge them or give condescending remarks. We should not interrupt the conversation to give our opinion. Overall, we need to be considerate of their feelings. 

Summarize the conversation

Another great way to show the patient that you really paid attention to them is by summarizing the conversation. I use this tip a lot in my own clinical practice. You don’t have to give a summary, but enough to make sure the patient knows you understand and it gives you the opportunity to clarify things if needed.

Some ways to approach this are: 

“I just want to recap quickly.”

“It seems like your main concern is ____. Is that correct?”

“I want to make sure I understand correctly. You have tried _____ for your symptoms.”

6. Use inclusive language

The use of inclusive language aims to treat everyone with respect and dignity by limiting biases and avoiding stereotyping. A key component of inclusive language is using “person-first” language—instead of saying a “diabetic patient,” in most cases it’s more appropriate to say a “patient with diabetes.”

Another example is to not make assumptions about a patient’s relationship status, gender, or sexual orientation. Use more neutral language, such as “partner,” ask for pronouns, and include gender-neutral pronouns like “they.”

When discussing someone’s race or ethnic heritage, it is best to avoid terms like “Caucasian,” “Brown,” and “Oriental.” If race or ethnicity is pertinent to the discussion, it is preferred to be as specific as possible, such as “White,” “American Indian,” or “Mexican American.”

Socioeconomic status should also be discussed in an inclusive way. Here are some examples:

“Homeless” -> “person experiencing homelessness”

“Poor” -> “person with no / low income”

“Third-world country” -> “resource-limited country”

Evaluating your own biases and learning to speak in more inclusive terms may take some time. And that’s ok! As NPs, we should always find new ways to learn and grow as providers. Over the years, as my own use of inclusive language has improved, I have had many patients appreciate my approach to communicating with them and how they feel safe and valued.

💜 For more information on the use of inclusive language in medical and health education, check out this evolving guide from Rosh Review!

Final Thoughts

Communicating well with your patients is a skill that NPs develop and hone over time. I’m still learning ways to improve! By using the techniques here, you will show your patients empathy and respect and create open and honest lines of communication.

No matter where you are in your NP journey, check out all of our resources at SMNP Reviews! Or, check out these other posts on the blog:

• Best Apps for Nurse Practitioners
• How to Negotiate Your Nurse Practitioner Contract
• What to Know About Nurse Practitioner Malpractice Insurance