A handy guide to tackling difficult patient and professional interactions with confidence and compassion. In this age of increasing reliance on technology, it is essential that the fundamentals of compassionate care and good communication remain at the heart of health care. This clear, concise guide to professional communication strategies helps nurses and other health care clinicians to navigate a wide variety of difficult patient and professional interactions. Written by a practicing psychotherapist who has devoted nearly thirty years of study to clinician-patient relationships, the book tackles such complex issues as dealing with demanding patients, maintaining professional boundaries, overcoming biases and stereotypes, managing clinician emotions, communicating bad news, challenging a colleague's clinical opinion, and other common situations. The book is organized for easy access to each situation and includes a description of the problem, guidelines for addressing it, and tips for communicating effectively with family members of all ages.From a focus on everyday manners in difficult situations to effective approaches with challenging populations, the guide helps health care professionals to confidently resolve common problems. Brief, to-the-point chapters help clinicians channel their clinical knowledge and good intentions into caring behaviors that allow the patient to more fully experience empathy and compassion. With the guiding theme of ""using words as precision instruments,"" this is a resource that will be referred to again and again. Key Features: Helps nurses and other health care professionals to communicate effectively in challenging clinical and professional situations Addresses such difficult issues as demanding patients, maintaining boundaries, overcoming biases, managing clinician emotions, and much more Provides special tips for communicating with family members and care givers Presents ""sound bites"" of communication skills for busy clinicians Authored by a practicing psychotherapist specializing in clinician-patient relationships for nearly 30 years