Patient Prognosis

I came across the following scenario on a number of occasions whilst on my neuro placement. A patient asks you a question about their condition… then comes the question about how much function they’ll get back and how long “all this rehab stuff” is going to take?
Initially I was not able to answer this question, due in most part to the fact that I had little to no experience with these patients, so that is what I told them. Nevertheless, this doesn’t really put to rest the curiosity/anxiousness of the patient. I consulted my supervisor who gave me some sound advice regarding various strategies for what I should and, perhaps more importantly, should not say to my patients. Armed with this knowledge I was able to satisfy patient curiosity or direct their questioning to someone in a better position to answer than myself. All the while ensuring I was both sensitive and positive in my attitude, which may be just as important as the answers themselves, that these people are seeking.