EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION PRACTICES FOR THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL describes different techniques that can be used to impart knowledge and facilitate learning, provide support to patient and family members when serious or life-threatening illness or injury is diagnosed, and to help loved-ones cope with unexpected death. Topics include Components of Effective Communication, Blocks to Effective Communication, Delivering Bad News, and Application of Therapeutic Communication. Scenarios are used throughout this four-part series to illustrate effective communication as well as ineffective communication and its consequences. Tips are provided that describe techniques that are beneficial to the patient as well as staff members. These programs are an excellent resource for nurses, physicians, social workers, psychologists, counselors, and anyone who has interaction with patients in critical and acute care or outpatient settings.