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Communication Skills

Nursing Care · 介護 - Kaigo · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Active Listening, Acceptance, Empathy, and Questioning

Self-awareness means recognizing your own personality, habits of thought, and emotions so you can interact with users without bias.

When speaking with a wheelchair user, kneel in front to match eye level and practice active listening while nodding to the end.

Acceptance (receiving feelings without denial) and empathy (understanding from the user's standpoint) build trust.

Use open questions for free expression and closed questions ('yes/no') when confirming intentions with someone who has difficulty speaking.

Active Listening, Acceptance, Empathy, and Questioning

Key points


  • Ask one question at a time to avoid confusion, and wait patiently during silence while the user organizes their thoughts.

  • Always explain the purpose and content of care clearly and obtain the user's consent before starting.

  • When helping choose clothes, show 2 to 3 actual garments and respect differences in culture, lifestyle, and values.
WordMeaning
self-awareness
active listening
acceptance
empathy
open question

Nonverbal Communication and Environment Setup

Nonverbal communication conveys feelings through facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, and gestures rather than words.

If a user says 'I am fine' while grimacing and holding their stomach, notice the nonverbal sign and gently ask about their pain.

Gentle touching on the hand or back provides reassurance, but avoid sudden contact or touching users who dislike physical contact.

Create a bright, quiet conversation environment by reducing background noise such as television.

Key points


  • To detect illness early in users who cannot express pain well, observe daily facial expressions and appetite for any 'differences from usual'.

  • Repeating key words and giving timely nods reassures users that their feelings are understood.

  • If you feel frustrated during care, take a deep breath to calm down or ask a coworker to take over if needed.
WordMeaning
nonverbal
facial expression
physical contact (touching)
noise
sense of reassurance

Communication Tailored to Disability Characteristics

For users who are hard of hearing, speak clearly and slightly slowly from the front where your face is visible.

Check that hearing aids are switched on, have working batteries, and fit snugly; use writing, sign language, or lip reading as needed.

For visually impaired users, state your name before approaching and explain meal placement using the clock position method.

For users with dysarthria or aphasia, listen calmly and use letter boards, pictures, or gestures.

Key points


  • Never shout directly into an ear wearing a hearing aid, and never wash a hearing aid with water.

  • For motor aphasia (difficulty speaking words), ask short questions that can be answered with 'yes' or 'no' and wait patiently.

  • For sensory aphasia (difficulty understanding spoken words), combine real objects, photos, illustrations, and gestures.
WordMeaning
hearing aid
written communication
visual impairment
dysarthria (articulation disorder)
aphasia

Interacting with Users with Dementia and Their Families

Practice Person-Centered Care by respecting each person with dementia as an individual and standing in their shoes.

When a user says 'I am going home' in the evening or 'I have not eaten lunch yet' after eating, accept their feelings without denial.

Answer repeated questions calmly each time as if asked for the first time, and invite them to bathe using short, concrete phrases.

Receive family concerns and complaints sincerely, apologize where appropriate, and report to supervisors for workplace-wide improvement.

Key points


  • Do not correct stories about deceased relatives or joyful memories that differ from fact; empathize with the user's emotional world.

  • If a user refuses bathing or recreation, ask their reason and check their health without forcing them, then invite them again later.

  • If users argue with each other, ensure safety by creating distance between them, listen calmly to each person, and report to a supervisor.
WordMeaning
denial
forcing (coercion)
complaint
argument, quarrel
calm, gentle

Reporting, Communicating, Consulting, and Care Records

In team care, practice Hou-Ren-Sou (Report, Communicate, Consult) and repeat back instructions for confirmation.

When reporting, state the conclusion first, follow 5W1H, and clearly separate objective facts from personal opinions.

In care records, distinguish subjective information (the user's own words) from objective information (measurements and observations).

Write records promptly after care using an indelible ballpoint pen; correct paper mistakes with a double line rather than correction fluid.

Key points


  • When reporting a health change to medical staff, specify when it started, symptoms, vital sign readings, and differences from usual.

  • When answering the phone, state the facility name and your name, take notes, and transfer to the person in charge for professional judgments.

  • If a nurse call rings during a staff handover, prioritize user safety and assign staff to respond and visit the room immediately.
WordMeaning
repeating back for confirmation
objective information
subjective information
shift handover
double line

Official references