NURSE Mnemonic for Expressing Empathy • Name - Identify the underlying emotion in a suggestive manner. • Understand - Confirm that you understand what the person is feeling by discussing their experience, listening actively (do not be planning what you next want to say), and allowing silence. Do not provide simple reassurance, disagreement, advice, clinical information or justification without definitely understanding what their true concern is. Do not try to convey that you understand what someone is feeling. • Respect - Give verbal and nonverbal evidence that their reaction is important. Match the level of your response to their level of emotion, i.e. a strong emotion needs to receive strong acknowledgement and respect. Accept their perspective without judgement and validate their input. Acceptance of their view is not the same as agreement with it. • Support - Give a variety of help sources, provide opportunities to participate in decision-making, and validate their efforts to cope. State your availability for them, preferably in a way that demonstrates a partnership. • Explore - Target questions to the specifics of what the person has said and show explicit interest in their emotions. #NURSE #Mnemonic #Empathy #palliative #management
