Therapeutic Use of Self Guide

Face

Voice

Hands

Body

Spirit

Emotions

Mind

Clear, even, sincere tone of voice

Voice volume appropriate for setting, time of day, and to encourage clarity and client's comprehension.

Nurses use different voices and language for different situations:
1) Medical voice (when speaking to other healthcare professionals),
2) Nursing voice (when speaking to and caring for clients)
3) Education voice (used when providing education)
4) Power (loud, commanding) voice (Used in critical situations)

Posture: shoulders depressed and retracted to encourage good body mechanics and longevity, but still maintain ease and avoid rigidity.

Stance: feet shoulder width apart to promote stability. Avoid crossing arms as it sends clients and coworkers non-verbal messages that you are upset or unapproachable.

Proximity: stand with respect to the client's personal space. Ask permission to enter the client's personal space if necessary to provide care.

Gestures: Kind, welcoming, polite

Presence: Calm, confident, patient, and knowledgable

Always clean (or gloved)

Provide gentle and caring touch, never grabbing or forcing.

Nimble, quick, and well-practiced at performing nursing skills.

Kind, "smiling" eyes

Consistent and frequent eye contact

Smiling when appropriate, but showing compassion when discussing something of importance the client.

Sometimes nurses have to practice keeping neutral facial language when they are upset, annoyed or otherwise so it does not affect their clients.

Nurses show empathy to clients by responding to them in an authentic way

Nurses know the importance of feeling their own emotions, but tempering them so they can continue to provide care when necessary

Nurses are sensitive to the needs of their clients and approach clients with a caring presence appropriate to the client's needs

Nurses express their own emotions at appropriate times, and encourage their clients to express themselves as well.

Nurses embrace and learn from different ways of knowing and being to build their own practices, and to better care for clients of all backgrounds

Nurses use trauma-informed practice to approach clients with understanding and safety.

Nurses use well-developed critical thinking skills to make clinical decisions that promote health in their clients.

Nurses follow their intuition to ensure safety of those around them.

Nurses embody a healing and nurturing spirit when they care for clients

Nurses provide support for clients in good times and hard times.

Nurses recognize their clients' personhood.