Professional interpersonal skills for nurses . Q Identify stereotyping and defensive behaviours on the part of the nurse. Q Comment on the body language and paralanguage of both nurse and patient. If the package is being used for groups, a number of strategies can be employed. After viewing the vignettes, group presentations in response to the suggested activity can take the form of discussions, role play, further questions, and overhead transparency or butcher paper summaries.
Individual students can view a vignette and then work through selected questions and activities.
Associated readings can be completed before or after viewing a vignette and be incorporated into written assignments that address questions in the suggested activities. In analysing and proposing different communication behaviours there are no absolutely right or wrong answers. There are, however, alternatives. Each alternative can be discussed and the likely advantages and disadvantages can be determined. The ultimate aim in using this multi media package in the teaching of communication skills is for health professionals to be able to demonstrate understanding derived from all their communication learning activities.