Using solution-focused communication to support patients.

Nurses want to help patients; it is one of their main roles and a key source of job satisfaction. However, finding the time despite low staffing levels and a heavy workload is a constant challenge. This article provides an overview of solution-focused communication -an approach valued by an increasing number of nurses because of its brevity and effectiveness in empowering patients to find the solutions that will help them to deal with their health challenges.

[1]  A. Macdonald.  Solution-focused therapy : theory, research & practice , 2011 .

[2]  J. Gustavsson,et al.  Early career burnout among nurses: modelling a hypothesized process using an item response approach. , 2010, International journal of nursing studies.

[3]  M. Reiter.  Hope and Expectancy in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy , 2010 .

[4]  S. Smith.  A preliminary analysis of narratives on the impact of training in solution-focused therapy expressed by students having completed a 6-month training course. , 2010, Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing.

[5]  S. Billett,et al.  Use of a think-aloud procedure to explore the relationship between clinical reasoning and solution-focused training in self-harm for emergency nurses. , 2009, Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing.

[6]  H. Ferraz,et al.  The integration of solution-focused brief therapy principles in nursing: a literature review. , 2008, Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing.

[7]  N. Wellman,et al.  Fostering a culture of engagement: a pilot study of the outcomes of training mental health nurses working in two UK acute admission units in brief solution-focused therapy techniques. , 2007, Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing.

[8]  B. Carter.  Working It Out Together: Being Solution-Focused in the Way We Nurse with Children and Their Families , 2007 .

[9]  B. Price.  Demonstrating respect for patient dignity. , 2004, Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987).

[10]  W. Duggleby,et al.  Elderly palliative care cancer patients' descriptions of hope-fostering strategies. , 2004, International journal of palliative nursing.

[11]  P. Barker,et al.  Finding solutions through empowerment: a preliminary study of a solution-orientated approach to nursing in acute psychiatric settings. , 2003, Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing.

[12]  M. McAllister.  Doing practice differently: solution-focused nursing. , 2003, Journal of advanced nursing.

[13]  Heather Neilson-Clayton,et al.  Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with Cancer Patients and Their Families , 2002 .

[14]  N. Bowles,et al.  Nurses' communication skills: an evaluation of the impact of solution-focused communication training. , 2001, Journal of advanced nursing.

[15]  D. C. Webster.  Solution-focused approaches in psychiatric/mental health nursing. , 2009, Perspectives in psychiatric care.

[16]  A Molnar,et al.  Brief therapy: focused solution development. , 1986, Family process.