No matter what specialty you work in, you will inevitably have to deliver difficult news to patients and/or families as a nurse practitioner. As a dermatology nurse practitioner, I frequently have to tell people they have a chronic skin, hair, or nail problem; or that they have skin cancer. Here are some tips to help you through these challenging conversations. Sit down. Patients perceive that providers have spent more time with them when we sit down during a visit. Sitting down takes away some of the power dynamic and facilitates trust and empathy. Take your time. Speak slowly, with many pauses when you explain the situation to the patient or family. Use common terms as much as possible to prevent confusion and unnecessary fear and misunderstanding. Allow time for questions. Pause after you've made your statement so the patient can absorb the information, process it, and think of questions to ask. If they don't have any questions, tell them what people often ask, and answer those questions. Provide the patient with the means to reach out to your or the office. Often patients think of questions later, when the information has sunk in, or after they've looked it up online.
As a tech company CEO, difficult conversations are part of my responsibilities. My approach requires transparency tempered with empathy. I convey challenging situations up front while expressing understanding for the emotional distress it might cause. The aim is to share the truth, considering their emotional state, and also ensuring the news doesn't hit hard. Leading isn't only about taking businesses to new heights, but also about being sensitive towards human emotions when decisions impact people's lives.