Angie Meillier on the Importance of Timing When Communicating

Angie Meillier, RN, MS, CPPM, of Allina Health System, explains why nurses should be sure that patients are ready to hear and understand specific information.

The timing of communication with patients is important, to ensure that the patients can properly hear, digest, and understand the information. For example, a patient might not be ready at the time of diagnosis to hear information about cancer rehabilitation. Nurses should be sure that they are giving information at the proper time and that they are stressing the importance of the information.