Communication is often better if the nurse is at or below the eye line of the patient

Patients who are wearing nighties or pyjamas often feel at a disadvantage when spoken to by a member of staff in uniform. This becomes much more intimidating if that member of staff is standing by the end of the bed or by their chair looking down on them.

Simply by getting a chair or crouching down by a chair, you can increase a patient's confidence. Eye line is so important. Most people who spend large parts of their lives in wheelchairs prefer people to sit down when talking to them. On a practical level, it also reduces the risk of the patient straining their neck as they look up to them.

Nicola