Communication Skills in Nursing: Role-Play and Self-Reflection

Step 1 - Getting ready

Step 1 - Getting ready
In your assigned groups of three, each student is to choose one of the following scenarios. Each student in your group is required to choose a different scenario wherein they will play the nurse. The remaining students will each take a turn to play the role of the client and the observer.
After the role-play, you will write about your group’s interactions and write a self-reflection from the perspective of the nurse. You are required to use course materials to support your written work and provide 3-5 references including a page number
Scenarios:
1.A young adult feels anxious about her upcoming hospital procedure. (observer role)

2.A new mother on a post-partum unit leaves frequently to go outside to smoke. ( client role)

3.A newly widowed 80-year-old woman refuses to take her antihypertensive (blood pressure) medication. (nurse role)


Step 2 - Role play
The purpose of this role-play is for students to imagine themselves facing a scenario where communication could be a challenge. It provides an active learning experience in a safe setting where mistakes can be made and group sharing can result in collaborative learning. The group will utilize the communication skills described in the course readings and apply them to the role-play scenario.
Continue to stay in your roles as long as possible (each role-play of the chosen scenario should be approximately five minutes in length). After the role-play exercise is over, the group should debrief the role-play interactions. After the role-play and debrief, the group portion of the assignment is over and you may begin your written debrief and self-reflection on your own.

Students are expected to integrate key concepts explored in the first ten weeks of the course. Expected outcomes from this activity include:
1.Establishing a therapeutic relationship with your client.
2.Incorporating professional verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
3.Incorporating active listening responses (Arnold, 2020, Table 5.1, p. 79), open-ended, closed-ended, and focused questions.




Step 3 - Debrief
Debrief after all students have had an opportunity to be 1) the nurse, 2) the client, and 3) the observer. Use only the space provided on this page (double space, font size 11)

Written Debrief

How did it feel to be the client? (Please refer to the assignment rubric)

What was it like to observe? (Please refer to the assignment rubric)

Step 4 - Self-Reflection

Please use the following questions to guide your self-reflection on your role as the nurse in your chosen scenario. Use only the space provided on the following two pages (double space, font size 11).


?Discuss how you felt about the therapeutic relationship you established with your client.
oWhat did you focus on and why?
?Discuss how you felt about your communication skills as the nurse in your chosen scenario.
oWhich communication skills did you utilize?  (I have chosen active listening)
oHow did you use them?
oWhy were they chosen?
oHow did the client respond?
?Discuss elements of the role play that were challenging. Why were they challenging?
?Reflect on your knowledge gaps. What skills do you need to review and why?
?What would you do differently next time?