Communicating with patients, relatives and colleagues

Below is a selection of resources to assist in communicating with patients, relatives and colleagues. The RCN's First Steps interactive induction resource also has a section on how to communicate effectively.

Books

• Personal Author: Bach, Shirley.
  Editor/co-author: Grant, Alec.
  Title: Communication and interpersonal skills for nurses
  Publication info: Exeter : Learning Matters, 2009.
• Personal Author: McCorry, Laurie Kelly.
  Editor/co-author: Mason, Jeff. 
  Title: Communication skills for the healthcare  professionals. 
  Publication info: Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health, c2011.
• Editor/co-author: Webb, Lucy.
  Title: Nursing : communication skills in practice 
  Publication info: Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2011.
• Personal Author: Sheldon, Lisa Kennedy.
  Title: Communication for nurses: talking with patients 
  Publication info: Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, c2009.

Journal articles

• Can you hear me? Relating more effectively to colleagues.
  Lynall, A.
  British Journal of Healthcare Assistants. 2010 Nov. 4(11).  pp. 556-7.
  Principles of good communication and building a rapport with others in the workplace. Suggestions for active listening are outlined.
• The gift of listening: JUST listening strategies.
  Browning, S; Waite, R.
  Nursing Forum. 2010 Jul/Sep. 45(3). pp. 150-8.
  Therapeutic power of listening in nursing care. The JUST listening approach to enhance active listening skills is described, focusing on its impact on the relationship with socially marginalised patients and patient empowerment. 30 refs.
• Good communication helps to build a therapeutic relationship.
  Collins, S.
  Nursing Times. 2009 23 Jun. 105(24). pp. 11.
  The importance of effective communication skills and the development of the nurse patient relationship to nursing care. Barriers to good communication and strategies for improvement are briefly discussed.
• The art of active listening.
  Bryant, L.
  Practice Nurse. 2009 27 Mar. 37(6). pp. 49-52.
  Techniques to improve listening in consultations to establish rapport with patients. A description is given of active listening that focuses upon creating the right environment to encourage a patient to talk, giving good attention, checking meaning and reassuring. Case studies illustrate how active listening may lead to better patient outcomes. 7 refs.
• Career progression: improving communication.
  Ashurst, A.
  Nursing & Residential Care. 2008 Aug. 10(8). pp. 406-8.
  Principles and techniques of good verbal and non-verbal communication between staff, relatives and patients in nursing homes. Practical guidance on active listening is given and the value of feedback, from service users or staff, is highlighted. Common barriers to effective communication and strategies for ensuring all staff are competent in communication skills are highlighted. 4 refs.
• The beauty of silence.
  Wright, S.
  Nursing Standard. 2006 23 Aug. 20(50).  pp. 18-20.
  Heart of Nursing series. Fourth in a series of 10 articles focusing on deep listening as a skill of nursing. An exercise in co-listening is included to provide an insight into how listening skills can be developed. 4 refs.