Interpersonal communication conflict
Description of Event
I was starting my shift on the ward from 2.30 pm and during handover the nurses on duty were explaining that one patient said ‘he had had enough’ and then proceeded to walk out of the ward by himself. He did come back and started complaining that the day shift nurses had been ignoring him, and when the nurse came to help him shower, that she had pushed him and made him move to fast which was quite painful to him. This patient was French, and had poor English communication. He was post op by 2 days and his chart said physio assist but during the morning shift had demonstrated that he was able to move independently. The morning nurse explained during handover that her workload was very heavy during her shift and that she had tried to explain to the patient that she was attending to other patients as well as him, and that she would come back to him as soon as she could. After the 2.30pm handover, the patient further complained to the nurse team-leader about his nursing care.

What feeling / emotions / thoughts did you have / others experience?
What values / beliefs underpin thoughts / feeling experienced?
Analysis: What sense / meanings can be made of this situation?
What conclusions can be drawn?
What action plan / strategies would you use?