Pre Clinical Skills Evaluation - Essay Example

DISCUSSION

            Professional communication during the assessment incorporated the SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendations, and communication technique. I used this technique to obtain an organized sequence that improved the assessment process. This technique was followed by a documentation process to record all relevant findings.

            I inquired about my lab partner’s health condition. My interest lied mostly in his lifestyle choices that affected his health; diet and exercise choices. The assessment required an inquiry about his background. This involved his eating habits and physical activity is undertaken per week. I presumed that poor eating habits and lack of enough physical activity were the major factors affecting his health.

            From the assessment, I was ascertained that his health condition was influenced by other external factors. Staying awake for long hours and participating in numerous activities affected his health. From this assessment, I made the following recommendation; besides adopting a diet and exercise schedule, he should reduce activities carried out in a week to improve his body’s condition.

            It was evident that the use of verbal and non-verbal communication facilitated a therapeutic relationship between us. Verbal skills create a positive therapeutic relationship. I began the assessment by greeting my partner, which was followed by a brief introduction. I, then, laid down the assessment procedure to him by using statements of orientation. Statements such as, “I will first carry out the assessment then discuss the results and any resulting queries.” I realized that, in a short time, a therapeutic relationship loomed in the room. I made sure that I used plain language; that is, I did not use complex medical terms. After the assessment, I took the time to explain to him the importance of positive lifestyle choices. This made him understand why I inquired about his weight, and how it may affect his health condition.

            I was able to obtain some information about my partner’s lifestyle choices from non-verbal communication. He hesitated to answer questions about his diet schedule and exercise choices. I was patient as he answered these questions. I avoided repeating questions that I thought were sensitive or intruded into his private life. He would fidget whenever he felt that I asked personal questions. All these non-verbal cues facilitated the development of a therapeutic relationship between us.

            Despite employing these communication techniques, some barriers inhibited the assessment process. Some of my partner’s statements were too ambiguous to provide any substantial information. A statement such as, “I have a fixed diet.” I could not establish what his diet was, or the type of food that made up his diet. Such statements inhibited the ability to collect sufficient objective data.

            Lifestyle choice in terms of diet and exercise is very delicate. I avoided intruding into his private life. Some issues were not dealt with for fear of losing the therapeutic relationship that was between us. This inhibited the ability to access more information from him to formulate sufficient objective data.

CONCLUSION

            From the above assessment, it is evident that clinical skill evaluation is important in developing a quality health assessment. Sufficient information has to be obtained by employing a well-structured communication technique. This technique should ensure that confidentiality is upheld; since assessment may involve a significant amount of personal information.