bedside manner
Doctor's patient approach
Bedside manner is the way a doctor or nurse interacts with patients—their warmth, communication style, and ability to put people at ease.
A good bedside manner involves empathy and clear explanations; a poor one feels cold or dismissive.
The surgeon was brilliant but had a terrible bedside manner.
The phrase extends to anyone whose job involves delicate interpersonal situations.
Attending to sound
- attentivePaying close notice
- responsiveQuick to react
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
- informativeProviding useful knowledge
clear · explanatory · dialogue · conversational · approachable · accessible · receptive · articulate
Feeling what others feel
understanding · sympathetic · tender · nurturing · consoling · comforting · soothing · humane
Inducing a settled state
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
- positiveAffirming or certain
supportive · affirming · confident · optimistic · steadying · grounding · bolstering · heartening
Showing proper regard
- courteousShowing respectful consideration
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
composed · poised · dignified · appropriate · measured · boundaried · ethical · confidential
Free from deception
- sincereGenuinely felt, not feigned
- reliableConsistently performing as expected
- dependableWorthy of trust
- consistentNot varying or contradicting
transparent · credible · authentic · genuine · forthright · truthful · integrity · accountable
listening
Attending to sound
- attentivePaying close notice
- responsiveQuick to react
- engagingPleasantly attractive, compelling attention
informative · clear · explanatory · dialogue · conversational · approachable · accessible · receptive · articulate · forthcoming
empathetic
Feeling what others feel
warm · understanding · sympathetic · tender · nurturing · consoling · comforting · soothing · humane · warmhearted
calming
Inducing a settled state
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
positive · supportive · affirming · confident · optimistic · steadying · grounding · bolstering · heartening · inspiring
respectful
Showing proper regard
- courteousShowing respectful consideration
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
discreet · composed · poised · dignified · appropriate · measured · boundaried · ethical · confidential · proper
honest
Free from deception
- sincereGenuinely felt, not feigned
- reliableConsistently performing as expected
- dependableWorthy of trust
consistent · transparent · credible · authentic · genuine · forthright · truthful · integrity · accountable · confidential
- health studiesmedical ethics, bioethics, health policy, health equity, medical history
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- caregivingcaregiver, take care, nurture, look after, compassionate care
- nursingnurse, nursing, nurses, RN, LPN
- ancient medicinephysicians, healers, Hippocratic Oath, Hippocratic oath, four humors
- bedside mannercompassionate care, patient comfort, rapport, reassurance, active listening
bedside mannercoldness
Low temperature state
brusqueness · callousness · indifference · aloofness · curtness
bedside mannerbluntness
Frank, unvarnished manner
tactlessness · poor communication · abruptness · insensitivity · dismissiveness
bedside mannertechnical expertise
Specialized professional skill
medical knowledge · surgical precision · hard skills · book smarts · book learning
manner, beds, ill-mannered, good manners, well-mannered, mannered, bedside, mannerism, mannerly