Interpersonal Skills: Effective Communication And Listening Skills

Question 1: Describe the key interpersonal skills you would have used in this interview to engage with Amelia.
Interpersonal skills are the effective communication and listening skills required by nurses to engage or interact with clients and formulate a therapeutic working relationship (Hungerford et al., 2015; Stein-Parbury, 2013). In a client experiencing psychosis, the nurse must develop the therapeutic relationship to be able to engage with the client in effective communication (Dodd & Jeffs, 2014). Some of the interpersonal skills the nurse would use to engage Amelia in the interview process would be active listening, using relevant questioning techniques, and showing empathy. Active listening is the act of listening attentively without
Using correct clinical terms, describe three important signs and symptoms from the scenario that you agree would support the doctor’s clinical opinion.
There are many symptoms associated with psychosis and psychotic disorders, outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013), however there are some key features of psychosis. These key features include delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thinking, and disorganised or abnormal motor behaviour (APA, 2013). Amelie is presenting with signs and symptoms of psychosis, three of them being auditory hallucinations, persecutory delusions, and disordered thinking.
Hallucinations are vivid and involuntary perceptions that are not prompted by an external stimulus, but are experienced as normal in the perception of someone experiencing psychosis (APA, 2013; Evans, 2017). Hallucinations can come in the form of visual or tactile experiences however the most common is auditory hallucinations, which is what Amelia is experiencing (Evans, 2013). This is evidenced by Amelia stating she hears voices telling her she is a bad person. No one else can hear these voices, however Amelia perceives them as real and that they make her nervous and
Studies have shown that the early inclusion of family in the recovery process often results in higher recovery rates for those with psychosis (Leggatt & Woodhead, 2016). However, it is also important that Amelia is in control of who is involved in her care, the nurse should not assume who Amelia will want to care for her. Amelia mentioned her friend convinced her to see a doctor about her symptoms, no family is mentioned. The nurse should ask Amelia if there is someone she would like to contact and be involved in her care (Stanton, Tooth & Champ,