title: Clinical update: communication issues and advance care planning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a clinical update on practical strategies to enhance the quality of communication in the palliative and end-of-life medical care settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published articles, textbooks, reports, and clinical experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The components of effective and compassionate care throughout the advanced illness trajectory require thoughtful and strategic communication with patients, families, and members of the health care team. Unfortunately, few health care professionals are formally trained in communication skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses who possess self-awareness and are skilled in effective communication practices are integral to the provision of high-quality palliative care for patients and families coping with advanced malignancies.
authors.forename: Crystal Dea
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Ashley M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D032722:Advance Care Planning; D001364:Awareness; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010166:Palliative Care
keywords: Communication skills; advance care planning discussion; palliative care; self-awareness