When emotions run high, especially negative ones, we don't know what to say and often retreat.

The NURSE acronym may help emotional conversations: Name, Understand Respect, Support, and Explore.

Naming the emotion, an especially powerful tool, exposes and acknowledges the discomfort.

The next time you are faced with a tough emotion, pause and start by naming it.

“Will I lose the ability to walk?”“How long do I have to live?”“Don’t take away my driving.”“Don’t you care about me?”

I hear these tough questions almost every day as a neurologist.

These conversations are hard, no matter how long you’ve been practicing. There’s no script for balancing truth and hope.

One acronym that has helped me is “NURSE,” a tool used in palliative care. The concept of “serious illness conversations” has emerged from the recognition that these discussions are filled with emotion...and that doctors are not necessarily good at them.

It may sound mechanical to use an acronym, but the acronym is just a pause button.

I’ve found that this approach has helped even beyond the........

© Psychology Today