NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Komunikacija se vsem nam zdi nekaj samoumevnega, nekaj kar s pridom uporabljajmo pri različnih situacijah. Niti ne pomislimo, da se vsak od nas lahko kdaj sreča z nekom, ki je ne zmore. Navsezadnje smo lahko to prav mi. Komunikacija v enoti intenzivne terapije ima veliko vlogo. Od nje so odvisni odnosi, potek zdravljenja in dobro počutje bolnika. Pacienti v takšnih enotah so življenjsko ogroženi in velikokrat prežeti z negativnimi občutki zaradi nezmožnosti verbalne komunikacije. Pomembno je, da pacient ni izoliran in izbočen iz okolja in različnih situacij, ki se tičejo njegovega zdravja. In prav neverbalna komunikacija nam nudi spekter možnosti in pripomočkov za ohranitev odnosa med medicinsko sestro in pacientom. Diplomsko delo je teoretičnega značaja. Za metodološki pristop smo uporabili dve metodi dela in sicer, deskriptivno ali opisno metodo in pa metodo preučevanja literature in virov. S pomočjo sistematičnega iskanja literature po knjižnicah, spletnih virih in bibliografskih bazah smo pregledali in kritično analizirali tujo in domačo strokovno literaturo ter vire, ki se navezujejo na našo temo. Vse podatke smo preučili, uredili, analizirali, sistematizirali in jih zapisali v računalniškem programu Microsoft Word. S pomočjo literature smo ugotovili katere ovire v komunikaciji nastajajo s strani pacienta in s strani zdravstvenega osebja. Diplomsko delo nam predstavlja življenjsko aktivnost, ki jo velikokrat zaradi ”bolj pomembnih” postopkov in posegov v zdravstveni negi, zanemarimo. Skozi diplomsko delo smo spoznali tudi različne načine komunikacije pri pacientih, ki ne zmorejo verbalne komunikacije. Opisali smo tudi kako se lahko težave nastale zaradi otežkočene komunikacije, rešijo ter se ob tem bolnik počuti dobro. Pacienti v enotah intenzivne terapije še bolj potrebujejo našo prijazno besedo in dotik.We regard communication as something very naturalit is something that we use in everyday life and various situations. It is hard to imagine a possibility of meeting a person incapable of communication. However, we should be aware that, in a specific situation, everyone can become a person unable to communicate. Communication in intensive care unit plays an important role. Relationships, the process and effect of medical treatment and the well being of a patient depend on it. Patients in intensive care units are in life threatening situations and often experience negative emotions due to inability to verbally communicate. It is crucial that such a patient is not isolated from the environment and situations regarding his or her health. It is non-verbal communication that provides us with various possibilities for establishing and building a relationship between a nurse and a patient. The thesis is theoretical. We used two research methods for methodological approachdescriptive method and the method of studying literature and other sources. With the help of systematic search of available literature in libraries, online sources and bibliographical bases we analysed foreign and Slovenian literature and other sources, related to the topic. All the data were studied, analysed and written in Microsoft Word programme. The studied literature describes the obstacles in communication between a patient and medical personnel. The thesis presents an important activity that is often, due to “more crucial” procedures, ignored. In the paper, we discuss different kinds of non-verbal communication which can be found with patients who are unable to communicate verbally. We describe ways of solving the problems that arise as a result of poor communication. Patients in intensive care unit are the ones who need and deserve a kind word and human touch the most