2007 AJN Book of the Year! With practical guidance for effective interactions with clients, colleagues, and families, Interpersonal Relationships: Professional Communication Skills for Nurses, 5th Edition, is the definitive source on communication skills for nurses. The book combines proven communication strategies and nursing principles with psychology and related theoretical frameworks. Plus, the text includes numerous experiential exercises to critically evaluate their communication skills as well as those of others. Grounded in theory, the text provides a framework for gaining a theoretical perspective. Ethical Dilemma boxes appear in each chapter and highlight ethical dilemmas in interpersonal relationships. Critical thinking content promotes the application of critical thinking processes essential for effective communication in the nursing practice. Discusses humor, gender, and touch in Chapter 10 as important means of communication in interpersonal relationships. Communication with patients of all ages, patients with special needs, and colleagues increases awareness of the issues involved in communicating with patients and promotes successful collaboration with coworkers. Case examples and exercises appear throughout the text to promote understanding and discussion of topics in the chapter. Learning objectives, chapter overviews, and glossary focus the student on essential information and help them study for tests. Two new chapters on Documentation in the Age of the Electronic Health Record and Communicating in the Age of eHealth Technology describe how to understand and utilize the most current healthcare communication technology. Developing an Evidence-Based Practice boxes appear in each chapter and describe a current research study and how it connects to the concepts in the text.

Pt. I Conceptual Foundations of Nurse-Client Relationships 1 Theoretical Perspectives and Contemporary Issues 1 2 Professional Guides to Action in Interpersonal Relationships 28 3 Clinical Judgment: Applying Critical Thinking and Ethical Decision Making 47 4 Self-Concept in the Nurse-Client Relationship 72 Pt. II The Nurse-Client Relationship 5 Structuring the Relationship 113 6 Bridges and Barriers in the Therapeutic Relationship 143 7 Role Relationship Patterns 166 8 The Grief Experience: Life's Losses and Endings 186 Pt. III Therapeutic Communication 9 Communication Styles 216 10 Developing Therapeutic Communication Skills in the Nurse-Client Relationship 232 11 Intercultural Communication 266 12 Communicating in Groups 301 13 Communicating with Families 332 14 Resolving Conflict Between Nurse and Client 365 15 Health Promotion and Client Learning Needs 389 16 Health Teaching in the Nurse-Client Relationship 410 Pt. IV Responding to Special Needs 17 Communicating with Clients Experiencing Communication Deficits 438 18 Communicating with Children 452 19 Communicating with Older Adults 476 20 Communicating with Clients in Stressful Situations 492 21 Communicating with Clients in Crisis 522 Pt. V Professional Issues 22 Communicating with Other Health Professionals 544 23 Documentation in the Age of Computers 573 Glossary 607 Index 615