Techniques for communicating difficult news in palliative care. Guide for social workers and social counseling in palliative care
Caruntu Adriana
Synopsis "Techniques for communicating difficult news in palliative care. Guide for social workers and social counseling in palliative care"
Techniques for Communicating Difficult News in Palliative Care Guide for Social Workers and Social Counseling in Palliative Care
Delivering life-altering news requires more than clinical knowledge-it demands compassion, clarity, cultural sensitivity, and ethical integrity. This comprehensive, evidence-based guide equips social workers, palliative care professionals, and interdisciplinary teams with practical frameworks and step-by-step tools for navigating the most challenging conversations in healthcare. Grounded in internationally recognized communication models such as SPIKES and NURSE, and supported by over 100 academic references, this book bridges theory and real-world practice. Readers will learn how to: Assess patient readiness and cultural context Deliver difficult news with honesty and empathy Manage emotional responses including shock, denial, anger, and grief Facilitate complex family meetings Address prognostic uncertainty while maintaining hope De-escalate conflict and support interdisciplinary collaboration. Strengthen resilience and reflective practice among care providers Designed for both experienced professionals and those in training, this book combines clinical guidance, ethical clarity, and practical communication strategies to improve patient dignity, family satisfaction, and team confidence. If you work in palliative care, hospice, oncology, social services, or serious illness care-this is your essential communication toolkit.