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Emotional Needs: Maslow, Grief and Difficult Emotions
Meet basic needs before you teach or position. Grieving, frightened or angry patients need calm listening, never arguing or false reassurance.
Maslow's hierarchy
Abraham Maslow ranked human needs in five levels. From the base up they are physiological, safety and security, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Lower needs come first. A patient who is short of breath, in pain, cold or needing the bathroom cannot focus on breathing instructions. So check breathing and comfort, offer a blanket and the restroom, and then explain the exam. Safety needs are met with locked wheels, side rails, a steady transfer and telling the patient what will happen next. Belonging is met by letting a parent or family member stay when it is safe. Esteem is met by using the patient's preferred name, keeping the gown closed and asking before you touch.