Ensuring effective communication when undertaking a systematic health assessment

Abstract

An important element of the role of the learning disability nurse is to support service users to maintain their health, particularly in relation to the early detection of health issues and timely access to appropriate treatments. One way of achieving this is by undertaking a systematic health assessment, of which effective communication is a central component in terms of identifying the person’s communication needs and using appropriate communication methods to meet those needs. Effective communication can engage the person in the assessment process as well as identifying their own experience of their health. This article explains the importance of using a systematic approach to health assessment and describes various elements of communication involved in this process. The authors include a fictional case study to outline how a systematic health assessment works in practice and the range of communication skills nurses may use to engage service users in the process.