Effective communication is essential in the healthcare context as it directly impacts the quality of patient-centered care and medical outcomes (Levetown,2008). In pediatric units, children are faced with painful and even life-threatening conditions that must be addressed openly and compassionately to provide optimal patient care. This essay will discuss four communication strategies used in healthcare settings with the goal of improving therapeutic communication. Through the use of evidence gathered from academic articles, this essay will demonstrate the importance of effective communication and how it can improve therapeutic communication between a healthcare provider and a pediatric patient. In healthcare, effective communication is crucial (,). Even more so is the ability of healthcare professionals to develop a therapeutic relationship with patients. Ineffective communication can lead to inconsistent and inappropriate care for patients. (Carter and Levetown, 2004). Pre-existing cognitive stages, emotions, and family relationships should be taken into consideration when caring for a pediatric patient. To improve therapeutic communication and successfully understand a child's medical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs, caregivers must use strategies that will be successful in ……………… then integrate those needs into a plan of care. The first strategy that can be implemented to improve therapeutic communication is to encourage the child to be actively involved in the medical and decision-making process through the use of play and other communication tools. Wassmer et al (2004), indicated that the need for shared decision making and informed outcome...... middle of paper ......abor. Since the family is the main source of support and stability for the child, the presence of the family during healthcare procedures can significantly reduce the anxiety of both the child and the family. By working together, parents and caregivers can make more personal, informed decisions about what treatment is best for a child and build a trusting and therapeutic relationship. Together, the family, nurse and healthcare professional have the power to provide the optimal care for a child. In pediatric units, children's language and communication needs will be closely related to their developmental level. The third key strategy for improving the therapeutic relationship is through the use of developmentally appropriate and non-threatening language. Several factors can become stressors for a child, however they can be addressed through developmentally targeted strategies.