| Interlocutor: SETTING: Hospital Rehabilitation Unit |
| CARER: You are visiting your 75-year-old mother who has been admitted to hospital following a stroke. Her speech and memory are impaired and she has limited mobility. You see the nurse just after he/she has completed clinical observations to ask for advice about your visits. Your mother is not present. TASK: When asked, say you saw that the nurse just checked in on your mother, and you want to know how she is doing. When asked, say she seemed okay when you last saw her; you’re glad to hear she’s a little bit better. Say you’re intending to visit your mother every day but you want to make sure you don’t tire her out. Say you’ll try to be aware when your mother seems tired. Say when you saw her yesterday, you felt helpless as you weren’t sure what you could do for her. Ask if you can take your mother outside when you visit so she can get some fresh air. Say you’ll follow the nurse’s advice about visits; you hope your mother will soon be well enough to leave the ward. |
| SETTING: Hospital Rehabilitation Unit |
| NURSE: Your patient is a 76-year-old woman who has been admitted to the ward following a stroke. Her speech and memory are impaired and she has limited mobility. You have just completed clinical observations. Her son/daughter asks you for advice about his/her visits. His/her mother is not present. TASK: Find out reason for request to see you. Give information about patient’s condition (first stage of recovery, vital signs: satisfactory; memory/speech capabilities: no change; mobility: slight improvement, etc.). Find out son/daughter’s opinion of mother’s condition. Confirm benefits of regular contact with family (e.g., lifting mood, energizing patient, passing time, establishing routine, etc.). Remind son/daughter of visiting regulations (e.g., maximum two visitors, not during mealtimes/treatment, etc.). Make recommendations about visits (short duration, watch for signs of tiredness, no need for constant conversation, etc.). Give advice on ways for son/daughter to help patient (e.g., do mobility exercises together, bring personal items to prompt memories, give encouragement, etc.). Advise against patient leaving ward at present (e.g., regular monitoring required by nursing staff, need for improvement in patient’s strength, orientation, mobility, etc) |