Description
Second edition of a popular book that helps students to develop their communication and interpersonal skills.
This popular book is designed to enable nursing and health care students to improve their communication and interpersonal skills. It provides an introduction to the theory that underpins communication studies and offers opportunities for students to reflect on their own practice. The book gives students helpful guidelines and tips, while emphasising that successful communication depends on the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
The new edition covers:
- Key concepts in communication;
- Self-awareness and understanding our impact on others;
- Transactional Analysis;
- Listening skills;
- Communication skills in practice;
- An extended case study that brings together the concepts and principles discussed throughout the book.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills uses activities, scenarios and case studies to support learning and to enable students to apply theory in their practice. It is ideal for students on nursing and health and social care courses who want to use their communication skills to improve the quality of care they offer to their patients and service users.
Introduction; About the authors
1. Introducing key concepts in communication
1.1 The importance of good communication
1.2 The 6 Cs
1.3 Towards a definition of communication
1.4 Modes of communication
1.5 Choosing your approach when communicating with others
1.6 Studying communications theory
2. Understanding ourselves and our impact on others
2.1 Intrapersonal communication
2.2 Developing awareness of how external factors impact on the self
2.3 Developing awareness of how internal factors impact on the self
2.4 Negative thinking
2.5 Positive thinking
2.6 Reflection and reflective practice
3. Interpersonal communication
3.1 Interpersonal skills
3.2 Verbal communication
3.3 Paralanguage
3.4 Non-verbal communication
3.5 Environmental communication
3.6 Intercultural communication
3.7 Communicating with the deaf or people with hearing loss
4. Introducing Transactional Analysis
4.1 What is Transactional Analysis?
4.2 The concept of ego states
4.3 Transactions between people
4.4 Life scripts
5. Listening to people
5.1 Communication through listening
5.2 The use of empathy
5.3 Create an interview plan
5.4 Acceptance and non-judgemental warmth
5.5 Being genuine
5.6 Self-disclosure
5.7 Active listening skills
5.8 Confidentiality
6. Communication and interpersonal skills in practice
6.1 Things that are important to people
6.2 Understanding ourselves and other people
6.3 Blocks and barriers to effective communication
6.4 Dealing with difficult people
6.5 Working in organisations and communicating with others
6.6 Codes of practice
6.7 The written word
6.8 Telephone
6.9 Email and text
6.10 Social media
7. Case study
Index
‘A comprehensive text covering many aspects of communication and the effective use of interpersonal skills. Suitable for a wide range of students at both basic and post-basic levels of professional education.’
Senior Lecturer, University of Brighton
‘I particularly liked the plain language and explanations of the communication theories discussed in this book. I also liked the reflection boxes as I think that this will encourage students to think more about this process and engage with it, something that most students new to reflection struggle with.’
Lecturer, University of Huddersfield
‘This book provides a very good introduction to communication skills required at entry level. Students are trained within an inter-professional setting and the text provides them with the necessary underpinning knowledge to start developing their communication skill. The reflection sections are very useful to evaluate your own understanding.’
Senior Lecturer, London South Bank University
‘Please pass on my thanks to the authors for this excellent book. I particularly like the use of transactional analysis as a framework – students find it easy to grasp and powerful in assisting them to understand what happens when we communicate. Also the exercises and the encouragement to students to enhance their self-awareness through guided reflection. I look forward to incorporating the ideas into my teaching of communication skills.’
Lecturer, Robert Gordon University
