Social Skills for Nursing Practice by French, Peter;

Short description:

The acquisition of professional interpersonal skills remains one of the key skills in the practice of nursing. Originally published in 1983 and as a second edition in 1994, this established book maintains that social skills can be learnt, and that patient care can improve by anticipating and preventing problems. 

Long description:

The acquisition of professional interpersonal skills remains one of the key skills in the practice of nursing. Originally published in 1983 and as a second edition in 1994, this established book maintains that social skills can be learnt, and that patient care can improve by anticipating and preventing problems. The book shows how nurses can develop personally and professionally by actively learning social skills in preference to their haphazard acquisition in practice. Drawing on a wide body of writing, research and nursing theory each chapter concludes with reflective activities and self-evaluation tasks and is preceded by learning objectives.

Original Review of Social Skills for Nursing Practice:

‘It has some good material encouraging reflective practice and self-direction…’ Philip Lister, Nursing Standard Volume 8, Issue 27.

‘This book presents several important central themes for nursing practice…there is a commendable emphasis on individual differences and helpful descriptions of patient anxiety and methods of reassurance…the book is clearly written and well-illustrated…’ Peter Butcher, The British Journal of Psychiatry, 144 (1), 1984.  

Table of Contents:

1.Introduction to a Transactional View of Nursing 2. Assessing the Person’s Needs and Problems 3. Communication Skills 4. Self-Reflection 5. Explanation, Questioning and Interviewing 6. Reassurance 7. Counselling Skills 8. Skills for Social Influence 9. Skills for Social Control 10. A Model for Social Skills Learning.