In the world of broadcasting, breaking news is when an event occurs that warrants an immediate interruption of current non-news programming. When this occurs, the network will alert all of its affiliates, telling them to “stand by.” Then, a countdown sequence will appear on the lower thirds (or other graphics) to let the affiliates know that the network feed is about to begin. When the countdown reaches zero, the news anchor will take the air and introduce the story at hand.
Breaking bad news is never easy. It’s even harder when it comes out of left field or at an inconvenient time. NPs may find themselves in the position of having to break bad news to patients and their families, ranging from a diagnosis of cancer to an unfavorable prognosis.
The ability to deliver bad news effectively is an essential skill for NPs. While it’s impossible to turn bad news into good, there are a number of things that can be done to make it as less stressful as possible for all involved.
In addition to knowing the basics of how to break bad news (listening to what a patient wants to hear, providing information in manageable amounts, checking for understanding) it’s important to consider the bigger objective of the conversation. For a doctor, this might be getting the patient to pursue their treatment plan or for a police officer it might be helping a victim stay calm and seek support.