Face-to-face communication is an essential skill in nursing. In today's technologically driven world, however, nursing students may have limited communication skills. Therefore, continually exploring alternative, technology-free methods to enhance students' development of communication techniques is warranted. For this teaching strategy, the educator should pair students with the person sitting next to them. Students should be given a trial-sized hand lotion and asked to give the person they are paired with a hand massage. The hand massage should be carried out continuously for approximately 2 minutes and performed under complete silence. After the exercise, the teacher should ask each student to record their response to the following prompts related to either receiving or giving the hand massage: describe (1) what you assessed while giving/receiving the hand massage, (2) what it felt like to give/receive the hand massage, (3) what you were thinking when giving/receiving it, (4) what you noticed about the other person's affect when giving/receiving the hand massage, and (5) what you would do differently the next time you were to give/receive a hand massage. The teacher can then use these responses to stimulate classroom discussion related to the importance of assessment during every patient interaction (prompt 1); emotional intelligence or need for preparation before patient interaction (prompt 2); concept of presence and "being there" (prompt 3); providing individualized care based on the patient's response (prompt 4); and the process of experiential learning (prompt 5).

By Beth Kalkman, MSN, RNC-OB, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan (mailto:[email protected]).