title: Listen to your patients.
abstract: The Code of Professional Conduct requires a nurse to respect her client as an individual and to involve him or her in the planning and provision of holistic care ( Nursing and Midwifery Council 2004 ). Here the term holistic care refers to the catering to patients' physical, psychological, social, spiritual and emotional needs. Respecting a patient's autonomy and individuality by involving him or her in the planning and provision of care is an important constituent of holistic care. In order to achieve this goal, nurses need to listen attentively to patients.