With an emphasis on practical application, this lively and accessible guide will help nurses to hone and develop their communication skills. Full of examples from both a patient and a nurse perspective, the book covers: Barriers to communication Communication in teams The patient's perspective Making good use of email and phone Managing difficult conversations How good communication underpins the essence of care Examples of both good and poor practice, taken from the real-life experiences of the authors, are included to encourage reflection and integration of theory and practice. The book includes common scenarios, activity points and suggestions for practice, to give nurses the tools to continue to develop and apply effective communication skills. "Communication Skills for Adult Nurses" will support both student nurses learning their craft and also offer a suitable handy reference for qualified nurses undertaking continuing professional development, or acting as mentors. Contributors Bernard Anderson, Jayne Crow, Graham Harris, Vivian Jellis, Mary Northrop, Paula Sobiechowska, Jill Toocaram