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How do you learn to act and be more like a psychologist or a nurse?
I want to be able to learn how to communicate with different patients of different ages and races. #Spring25
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Montse’s Answer
Hi Carrington,
Great question! Working with people and communicating with them can be complex. It's not just about race or age; each person is unique, and that's what makes it special.
It's important to build your empathy so you can understand how others think and feel. Active listening is also a powerful tool. Often, it's better to listen and connect with someone first, creating a sense of closeness before you start sharing information.
Additionally, learning about different cultural traits can be helpful. Some age groups may have similar patterns, and certain religious or cultural groups might view some behaviors differently. Spending time with people from various backgrounds can help you understand these differences.
Remember, learning is a lifelong journey. You'll learn by doing, so don't worry about making mistakes along the way. Just do your best, and you'll succeed.
Hope this helps!
Montse
Great question! Working with people and communicating with them can be complex. It's not just about race or age; each person is unique, and that's what makes it special.
It's important to build your empathy so you can understand how others think and feel. Active listening is also a powerful tool. Often, it's better to listen and connect with someone first, creating a sense of closeness before you start sharing information.
Additionally, learning about different cultural traits can be helpful. Some age groups may have similar patterns, and certain religious or cultural groups might view some behaviors differently. Spending time with people from various backgrounds can help you understand these differences.
Remember, learning is a lifelong journey. You'll learn by doing, so don't worry about making mistakes along the way. Just do your best, and you'll succeed.
Hope this helps!
Montse
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Carrington! 🌟 First of all, huge respect for even asking this question — communication is such a powerful skill in psychology and nursing! Many students dont realize this until they kinda get into the field and its great that you are aware of this to be asking already.
One great way to start, I had say 👉 Practice "active listening" every day.
It’s not just hearing someone but it’s really tuning in. So, when someone talks, focus only on them (no jumping in, no quick advice, no distractions). Reflect their words back a little ("So you’re saying..."), it shows deep care and builds crazy-good trust and shows understanding. So basically, I had say Active Listening is a Core Skill. You need Full attention, patience, no interrupting. Just a Nod, shows you're listening.
Another important factor would be Empathy (Superpower Skill).
You need to be Stepping into someone else's shoes emotionally.
Example: If a patient says they’re scared about a procedure, instead of just explaining facts, first acknowledge their feeling: "It's completely normal to feel nervous before surgery.
Thirdly I had recommend Open Body Language, its basically like ur secret weapon. You will need to have Eye contact, relaxed posture, and a warm tone. Now many think they are doing this right, but when you speak to somebody who is in a warm tone and stressed you had hear the difference when the person is not warm toned and stressed at same time. This was a method of communication I learnt along the way I was shadowing. For this you could just be Sitting slightly forward when someone speaks to you, keeping your arms uncrossed, and smiling lightly, these little things make people of all ages and backgrounds feel safe and respected.
Forth, I think adaptability matters. So adjusting to the person is important during communication. You need Flexibility with communication style. This means, With kids, you might use simpler words and more animated expressions. With elderly patients, you might speak slower and louder but very respectfully.
My last recommended tip would be to learn to stay calm under pressure. In the medic world this is prior and important. You need to have Emotional control and patience when things get stressful. You cant expect everyone that comes to see you to be on a happy mood all the time. Most times its pressure, stress and moods that needs to be handled calmly. For instance, If someone is upset or angry, instead of matching their energy, keep your voice calm, lower your tone slightly, and give them space to vent before responding. Children usually tend to be panicking and under angry feelings most times, I use sweets to make them slightly calm and then I talk to them. But yea of course not always candies would be at hand, so trying to stay back a little for the kid to calm down showing them you mean good settles them down. And its the same with adults and other ages you just have to try to be respectful, calm and patient with them no matter their age difference or their race.
Now, When it comes to communicating across different races and cultures as well, I might add there is a few things I can tell you.
I had suggest to be open-minded, not assuming everyone thinks or feels the same way you do. Example: If you're not sure about something (like how someone prefers to be greeted), it's 100% okay to politely ask the method of greetings. Now honestly, with patients there is no formal way just the hi is fine. But during your conferences, meetings and communicating with seniors it can be a bit challenging. Usually I smile myself and I just give a slight head nod with a hello, and this is the most formal way almost all professions use and is respectful. Doctors usually shake hands but it doesn't mean if you are not comfortable its a must for you to do it. I mean I just give a punch...kidiing.....anyways.
Respect for Personal Space and Traditions, like, recognizing that comfort zones vary across cultures. In some cultures, direct eye contact is a sign of confidence; in others, it might be seen as disrespectful. Notice their style and adjust gently — if someone avoids eye contact, don't force it. Its like saying don't over eye contact, you can just be a little gentle, look once and then look down or blink. You will have this figured out along your learning and work over time so don't stress too much, man.
Next, I should say to avoid heavy slang or complicated medical jargon. And after explaining something, you can ask them if what you said was clear. Now people from different cultures and races they don't always understand the medical words and need to be spoken to in simple words to ensure understanding.
One last thing I would want to add before I end Carrington for you , is Validation of Their Experiences. Now you see in these fields, patients and people tend to lean in a lot, you will hear a lot of side stories, and experiences so you have to be sure you are not minimizing them. You need to recognize that people from different racial backgrounds might have different healthcare experiences, sometimes good, sometimes not. Validation can build huge trust.
Carrington, You don’t have to know everything about every culture. You just need to show respect, curiosity, and willingness to learn. You’re already thinking like a pro by wanting to work on this! 💪 Just start with small daily conversations — friends, family, even strangers in safe settings, and practice one skill at a time. I usually just recommend working on the communication and don't worry about meeting different races, because you will build to adapt to communicate with them over time. What matters most right now is being able to handle the pressure and to stay calm and patient. So perhaps start small and you will achieve it over time buddy.
Hope this helps out, if I did miss anything feel free to ask I had be happy to share. All the best mate.
volunteer somewhere like a hospital or a local clinic! You’ll meet all kinds of people and naturally build those skills.
One great way to start, I had say 👉 Practice "active listening" every day.
It’s not just hearing someone but it’s really tuning in. So, when someone talks, focus only on them (no jumping in, no quick advice, no distractions). Reflect their words back a little ("So you’re saying..."), it shows deep care and builds crazy-good trust and shows understanding. So basically, I had say Active Listening is a Core Skill. You need Full attention, patience, no interrupting. Just a Nod, shows you're listening.
Another important factor would be Empathy (Superpower Skill).
You need to be Stepping into someone else's shoes emotionally.
Example: If a patient says they’re scared about a procedure, instead of just explaining facts, first acknowledge their feeling: "It's completely normal to feel nervous before surgery.
Thirdly I had recommend Open Body Language, its basically like ur secret weapon. You will need to have Eye contact, relaxed posture, and a warm tone. Now many think they are doing this right, but when you speak to somebody who is in a warm tone and stressed you had hear the difference when the person is not warm toned and stressed at same time. This was a method of communication I learnt along the way I was shadowing. For this you could just be Sitting slightly forward when someone speaks to you, keeping your arms uncrossed, and smiling lightly, these little things make people of all ages and backgrounds feel safe and respected.
Forth, I think adaptability matters. So adjusting to the person is important during communication. You need Flexibility with communication style. This means, With kids, you might use simpler words and more animated expressions. With elderly patients, you might speak slower and louder but very respectfully.
My last recommended tip would be to learn to stay calm under pressure. In the medic world this is prior and important. You need to have Emotional control and patience when things get stressful. You cant expect everyone that comes to see you to be on a happy mood all the time. Most times its pressure, stress and moods that needs to be handled calmly. For instance, If someone is upset or angry, instead of matching their energy, keep your voice calm, lower your tone slightly, and give them space to vent before responding. Children usually tend to be panicking and under angry feelings most times, I use sweets to make them slightly calm and then I talk to them. But yea of course not always candies would be at hand, so trying to stay back a little for the kid to calm down showing them you mean good settles them down. And its the same with adults and other ages you just have to try to be respectful, calm and patient with them no matter their age difference or their race.
Now, When it comes to communicating across different races and cultures as well, I might add there is a few things I can tell you.
I had suggest to be open-minded, not assuming everyone thinks or feels the same way you do. Example: If you're not sure about something (like how someone prefers to be greeted), it's 100% okay to politely ask the method of greetings. Now honestly, with patients there is no formal way just the hi is fine. But during your conferences, meetings and communicating with seniors it can be a bit challenging. Usually I smile myself and I just give a slight head nod with a hello, and this is the most formal way almost all professions use and is respectful. Doctors usually shake hands but it doesn't mean if you are not comfortable its a must for you to do it. I mean I just give a punch...kidiing.....anyways.
Respect for Personal Space and Traditions, like, recognizing that comfort zones vary across cultures. In some cultures, direct eye contact is a sign of confidence; in others, it might be seen as disrespectful. Notice their style and adjust gently — if someone avoids eye contact, don't force it. Its like saying don't over eye contact, you can just be a little gentle, look once and then look down or blink. You will have this figured out along your learning and work over time so don't stress too much, man.
Next, I should say to avoid heavy slang or complicated medical jargon. And after explaining something, you can ask them if what you said was clear. Now people from different cultures and races they don't always understand the medical words and need to be spoken to in simple words to ensure understanding.
One last thing I would want to add before I end Carrington for you , is Validation of Their Experiences. Now you see in these fields, patients and people tend to lean in a lot, you will hear a lot of side stories, and experiences so you have to be sure you are not minimizing them. You need to recognize that people from different racial backgrounds might have different healthcare experiences, sometimes good, sometimes not. Validation can build huge trust.
Carrington, You don’t have to know everything about every culture. You just need to show respect, curiosity, and willingness to learn. You’re already thinking like a pro by wanting to work on this! 💪 Just start with small daily conversations — friends, family, even strangers in safe settings, and practice one skill at a time. I usually just recommend working on the communication and don't worry about meeting different races, because you will build to adapt to communicate with them over time. What matters most right now is being able to handle the pressure and to stay calm and patient. So perhaps start small and you will achieve it over time buddy.
Hope this helps out, if I did miss anything feel free to ask I had be happy to share. All the best mate.
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