Breaking Bad News To Family or Friends
How to break difficult and sad news to family and friends?
- Plan what is to be said ahead of time and organize your thoughts. Anticipate questions others may ask. Knowledge of their coping skills is helpful in planning the response.
- Establish a rapport. If this has not occurred, ask others who have a rapport to attend.
- Attempt to control the environment as much as possible. Set aside appropriate time; turn off your cell phone, and television.Sit down and listen quietly.
- Find out what the person already knows.
- Find out how much they want to know. Don’t make assumptions about this.
- Respond to their reactions using an empathetic response.
- When appropriate, explain the situation and the plan and summarize upon completion.
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