Breaking news refers to news coverage of events that are developing rapidly, often in real-time. These developments may be of a significant social or political nature or related to natural disasters or accidents. Unlike regular news reporting that can benefit from time for research and fact-checking, breaking news requires immediate reporting to inform the public about incidents that could have widespread impact.
Delivering difficult news can be a delicate and challenging task, even for NPs with a solid repertoire of communication skills. Whether the NP is conveying a traumatic diagnosis or advising a patient that their treatment options are limited and upcoming death is likely, the delivery of bad news can be emotionally challenging for all involved.
However, there are some ways NPs can approach this difficult messaging to ensure they communicate the news with integrity and empathy. For instance, a key component is to clearly define the big-picture objective of the bad news. For example, if the NP is relaying that an employee is leaving, the bigger objective might be to help them navigate the transition smoothly or find a new job as soon as possible.
Focusing on this larger objective shifts the dynamic between messenger and recipient. It is easier to work with someone toward a desired objective than to be at odds with them over something that is essentially insurmountable. This approach also makes it easier to determine how much information is necessary for the person in question and avoid rambling or using cryptic language.