The ability to deliver bad news is a key communication skill for nurses, especially those in end-of-life care where patients are often informed that their disease has progressed and that death is imminent. But breaking bad news can be difficult for anyone. Whether it’s an employee being laid off, a friend losing a job, or the death of a loved one, effective delivery of a difficult piece of information can lead to positive outcomes in any setting.
Breaking news is characterized by events that take place in real time and must be reported immediately. These events often involve natural disasters, major accidents, and political incidents. The urgency of this type of reporting can make it difficult to verify and cite sources, especially in the case of eyewitness accounts.
In order to maintain audience engagement, journalists must balance the need for speed with accuracy. They also face ethical considerations when it comes to reporting the names of victims injured or killed while awaiting confirmation from authorities.
The quickest and most effective way to convey bad news is to be honest, but this can be extremely challenging. Buffering and softening can help nebulize a message, but they can also undermine it, causing the recipient to build defenses against the news. When it comes to delivering bad news, multiple studies show that the degree of honesty depends on who you are communicating with, what you’re telling them, how you communicate it, and what the larger objective is for the interaction.
About the Author
