Language use in the patient care setting is an important part of healing and recovery. While the use of jargon can increase accuracy in the clinical setting, it can also run the risk of alienating the patient, adding to their anxiety. Consider how language use can influence and impact patient care.

Reflect on a time you (or someone you know) were conversing in a work context when you noticed a word or phrase that you used, or they used, that the patient, or someone outside of your department, would not understand.

Discuss the context and the word or phrase, and how it would be interpreted by a patient, or coworker, who would not understand. How did it impact or influence their perceptions of the situation?