title: Effective communication in palliative care.
abstract: This article focuses on the definitions of communication and an examination of their relationship to palliative care nursing. The underpinning theory is analysed as a means of understanding the communication process. The communication process in nursing is considered in the context of nurse/patient/family communication. While the focus of the article is on palliative care, the principles of communication as outlined also have relevance and applicability to nurses working in a variety of other clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Educare Nurse Education Consortium, Clinical Education Centre, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. kdunne@alt.n-i.nhs.uk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dunne
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D001364:Awareness; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009729:Nursing; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011361:Professional Competence; D006113:United Kingdom