Nurses play a vital role in providing medical care to a patient. They are just as qualified as medical practitioners and can effectively care for the patient. Registered nurses, nursing managers/directors, and nursing aides all play different roles to ensure good care of the patient. They stay committed to their responsibility to look out for the patients, even if it requires doing basic things. Apart from caring for the patient, they also look out for the patient’s family. They help the family to cope with their loved one’s illness, suffering, or loss. More importantly, nurses are always keen to know how they can do better to improve patient satisfaction. If nurses have good behavior towards patients and colleagues, they will also perform better.

Nowadays, nurses are highly qualified and skilled. They have more skills than just being responsible for patient care. They work alongside health care professionals to provide medical treatment to patients. They are also quick to think of new innovative ideas that can help a patient. However, they must undergo various levels of education before they start working at a clinic or hospital. Today an online degree allows you to study at your own pace. Therefore, you can opt for online nursing masters from your own home and gain the extra edge in your skills.

Below we will talk about four tips, which will help nurses to improve patient satisfaction.

 1. Educate Patients

One thing that almost all patients complain of is a lack of awareness about their procedures. Patients want to stay informed about their health and require extensive information regarding it. However, doctors do not extensively educate their patients on their treatment. Most of the time, doctors use complicated medical jargon. The patient cannot comprehend this, and it further scares them. Nurses can help educate and communicate to the patients calmly by using non-technical words. They should accurately explain to the patients about their illness and treatment. It will help improve communication with the patient. It will also bring them ease as they can understand their diagnosis better. Along with this, they can give the patient written instructions for treatment and medication. It will help them once they get discharged and will make them feel comforted.

 2. Be a Good Listener

Sometimes patients get tired of listening to their health issues and want someone to listen to them. Many patients feel scared to give consent to risky surgery. They may require someone to listen to their feelings and help convince them otherwise. Going into surgery is scary, and nurses should support patients, especially if they do not have a family with them. Suppose the nursing staff has a positive and friendly attitude towards the patient. In that case, they are more likely to disclose their feelings. Nurses must show empathy and understanding towards their patients so that they do not feel frightened or alone. Also, suppose nurses are calm and provide assurance to the patient that they can confide in them. In that case, patients are more likely, to be honest about delicate things. For example, a teenager may be on drugs but would not reveal this because they feel they would get in trouble. However, such information is essential so that doctors know how to operate on them. If a nurse shows empathy and ensures the patient’s safety, they are more likely to give honest answers.

 3. Add a Personal Element

Patients feel comforted when the health care workers show an interest in their health and their feelings. Nurses should try and make small gestures to show the patient they care for them. An example can be to eye contact with the patient while talking to them about their treatment. It shows the patient that you are dedicated and focused towards them, rather than concentrating on a laptop or elsewhere. Another example would be to address a patient by their name and ask them how they feel. A small gesture like this provides support to the patient, thus improving their satisfaction.

 4. Avoid Overworking

No one should work more than required. Overworking can cause stress, discomfort, and burnout. Many hospitals tend to understaff the nurses, which leads them to overwork. If nurses become overworked, they will not be able to ensure patient satisfaction. If they have to work multiple shifts, they cannot give enough time to their patients. In many ways, some patients will get overlooked, which can cause an unsatisfactory experience for the patient and sometimes may even cause severe problems. It also results in a bad reputation for the hospital as it seems they provide low-quality health care. Therefore, the rights of nurses must stay protected so that their health does not degrade. Also, nurses and other health care workers should advocate the management to ensure proper staffing levels. It will help in ensuring that patient satisfaction does not get compromised.

Final Thoughts

To sum up, we can see that nurses play an integral role in monitoring patient health and satisfaction. They should make time for patient needs and be empathetic towards them. They should be motivated to do better, and their supervisors should be grateful for their hard work and dedication. The hospital management should also set up training programs to enhance their skills and have mentors for new nurses to adjust well. Without nurses, hospitals would not be able to function. Therefore, it is high time nurses become valued instead of neglecting them.