EMT Lesson Plans

1.14 INSTRUCTOR GUIDANCE – THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATIONS

Objectives: Demonstrate appropriate verbiage when communicating with a pediatric and geriatric patient

Setup: - Another student can play the role of the elderly patient - A child manikin can play the role of the pediatric patient

Instructions to be read to students: Elderly: “This patient is 78 years old – please introduce yourself and ask the patient what is wrong.” Pediatric: “This patient is 5 years old – please introduce yourself and ask the patient what is wrong.”

Precautions: Do not let the station deteriorate into off-topic chatter. Continue rotating them through one at a time until everyone has had the change to interview both the elderly and pediatric patient.

Sample scripts:

Elderly

Pediatric

Rescuer:

Rescuer (at patient’s level):

“Hello Sir, I’m (name) from EMS. What is your name please?”

“Hi buddy, I’m (name) from the ambulance What is your name?”

Patient:

Patient: “Timmy” Rescuer:

“My name is John Smith”

Rescuer:

“OK Mr. Smith – how do you feel today?”

“OK Timmy – what’s the matter today?”

Patient:

Patient:

“I feel light-headed and dizzy”

“My belly hurts”

Rescuer:

Rescuer (at patient’s level):

“Hello Ma’am, I’m (name) from EMS. What is your name please?”

“Hello there, I’m (name) from the ambulance What is your name?”

Patient:

Patient: “Cindy” Rescuer:

“My name is Jane Jones”

Rescuer:

“OK Mrs. Jones – how do you feel today?”

“OK Cindy – what’s the matter today?”

Patient:

Patient:

“I’m short of breath”

“My leg hurts”

Rescuer:

Rescuer (at patient’s level):

“Hello Sir, I’m (name) from EMS. What is your name please?”

“Hello there, I’m (name) from the ambulance What is your name?”

Patient:

Patient: “Johnny” Rescuer:

“My name is Bill Anderson”

Rescuer:

“OK Mr. Anderson – how do you feel today?”

“OK Johny – what’s the matter today?”

Patient:

Patient:

“Please call me Bill”

“My nose is very runny”

Rescuer:

Rescuer:

“OK Bill– how do you feel today?”

“You have a running nose huh? Have you been coughing too?”

Patient:

Patient:

“I have some tremors in my hands – I can’t stop shaking”

“Yes – I have really really bad cough”