title: Challenges and opportunities: communication near the end of life.
abstract: While the nurse works on developing communication skills with the dying patient and his or her family, the goal should be to build an understanding of the patient and family's needs and goals. The principles and value of good communication near the end of life are reviewed. Practical approaches and suggestions for medical-surgical nurses to improve communication are provided.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gauthier
mesh_terms: D032722:Advance Care Planning; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004645:Empathy; D006040:Goals; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013041:Specialties, Nursing; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure