An exploratory study of nurse aides’ communication behaviours: giving ‘positive regard’ as a strategy

medvene l.J. & lann‐wolcott h. (2009)  An exploratory study of nurse aides’ communication behaviours: giving ‘positive regard’ as a strategy. International Journal of Older People Nursing   5 , 41–50
doi: 10.1111/j.1748‐3743.2009.00183.x Aim.  The aim of this study was to identify the communication behaviours and strategies used by socially skilled geriatric nurse aides working with residents in long term care facilities. Background.  Communication skills are recognized as tools for establishing relationships and accomplishing care related tasks. A small but growing research literature exists within gerontology around geriatric nurse aide/resident communication. The present study was intended to contribute to this literature. Design.  This study used an exploratory qualitative design involving personal interviews with geriatric nurse aides. Methods.  Interviewers carried out 90‐minute interviews with 16 nurse aides who worked at an assisted living facility or a nursing home. Of interest was the extent to which established systems for coding interactions could be used to code nurse aide/resident interactions, or whether new categories would emerge. Results.  The novel finding that all of the aides used a communication strategy that could be characterized as ‘giving positive regard’, defined as acknowledging the resident, treating the resident with respect. Relevance to clinical practice.  The category of ‘giving positive regard’ included specific behaviours which can be included as content in communication skill training programs.