As correctional health staff, we want to provide appropriate and quality health care to our patients, but sometimes their expectations and requests are not within the bounds of good patient care. How do we say no to these requests in such a way that the patient accepts the decision, and the patient-professional therapeutic relationship is maintained? Using real-life scenarios, we will review four communication strategies that can be used with our patients and discuss three techniques for better communication.

Educational Objectives

• Demonstrate communication strategies that can be used when it is necessary to refuse a patient's request
• Discuss how to incorporate communication techniques that support continued therapeutic communication
• Apply three techniques that can be used for better patient communication

Level:Basic