ABSTRACT
Methods of communicating 47 Breaking bad or significant news 49 References 50 Further reading 51
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to accomplish the following: 1 Acquire an understanding of concepts, definitions
and categories associated with communication with children, families and others
2 Develop an awareness of a range of communication frameworks and how they might be used in contemporary child health nursing
3 Understand aspects of professional practice that enhance or detract from effective communication with children and their families
4 Identify strategies of breaking significant news to children and their families
5 Understand the role of Heron’s work and its application in child health nursing practice
6 Recognise the important role of children’s nurses as child and family advocates, especially for those families who are disadvantaged
7 Appreciate the use of special communication techniques for children with disabilities
8 Understand the use of the telephone, SMS texting and email as a method of communication with children and families
day-to-day working lives. Importantly children’s nurses need advanced communication skills as part of their toolkit of professional attributes that they need for professional practice when working with families. When communicating with children and young people, it is important to remember that, although the child is the patient, the parent is often the broker in any communication episode. The family in most communication scenarios is often an indivisible unit. Serious illness in children and young people can be devastating for many parents, and sometimes minor illnesses are irrationally perceived and are therefore frightening for all concerned.
