Gestures
I found the idea creating gestures for the lab very interesting and think that I will incorporate it in my lab.
I agree. It can also help i communicating with students without embarrassing them.
Rudy, the process of creating gestures gives the learners ownership of the content and learning process.
Michele Deck
There are a certain amount of gestures or body language used, but actively creating new gestures is a great idea. It will also promote better communication.
I find this concept very interesting (gestures)
Norma, gestures do make all of those involved more comfortable.
Michele Deck
We have to keep in mind that every student out there is inexperienced. So in a clinic setting I find gestures to be a great form of communication when it comes to somthing questionable. I think it will make patient more at ease.
Donna, thank your for sharing your experience with gestures. They are great communication systems.
Michele Deck
I have been teaching with gestures for years in my clincal setting. When I point to my eyes, the students know that they forgot to place protective eyewhere on the patient. I make other gestures so that students put on their name badges, snap labcoats, etc.
Christine, reading body language is a necessary skill for our students when graduated and out in the job world. I'm glad this awareness has helped you to teach it.
Michele Deck
Hand gestures are a great idea. We teach the students to read body language. What better way to enforce this!
Gayle you are spot on with your comment. New students are already stressed working with patients for the first time so it is imperative to add to (not detract from ) their confidence levels. With gestures, they have the safety of an instructor in the room for the prcedure without the fear of being thought incompetent by the patient.
\
I too find this a useful approach. We work with animals and they read anxiety and energy. A simple hand gesture decreases the nervous energy of a confused student.
Shirley, we need to create an awareness of the value of all forms of communication.
Michele Deck
I agree. Non-verbal skills are at times more important than verbal skills.
LeeAnn, encouraging both nonverbal and verbal communication is an important instructor role.
Michele Deck
This is something that I do use with my clinical students. In my experience, it helps the students to feel a bit more relaxed knowing that we can 'communicate' without everyone else knowing what is going on.
Lawrence, it's good to know that gestures are used in your specialty field also. Thanks so much for sharing this information.
Michele Deck
Hand gestures are widely used in the Radiologic Tech field, particularly in procedures that may be uncomfortable for the patient. The Radiologist will signal to increase tightness on a band, or to have more contrast flowing, etc. These gestures don't cause the patient anxiety or anticipation of the possibility of more discomfort from the procedure-in many cases, they don't even notice the change.
