Improving the nurse-patient relationship: a multi-faceted approach

A Corporate Education Session was held to provide concrete strategies for overcoming several specific barriers in the daily nurse-patient relationship that negatively affect the patient, nurse, or both, and to provide the latest information about best practice as it affects nurses in renal care.

The session was led by a moderator who presented three video case studies to the audience. Communication strategies for recognising and overcoming nurse-patient communication barriers were presented. The audience expressed their views about each case study using voting pads, and a panel of experts addressed the comments of the audience and discussed guidelines for best practice in renal care. The panel comprised three experienced renal nurses, a senior nephrologist, and an expert in social interaction.

Optimal treatment of patients with renal disease should include early treatment of anaemia, adequate levels of dialysis, and a multidisciplinary approach, responding to both the medical and the social needs of the patient.