Communication is the essence of nursing care. 1: Breaking bad news.

This is the first of two articles which support the assumption that effective communication is the foundation upon which nursing should stand. The articles are founded on an examination of an interaction analysis of a role play situation in the classroom where a group of 19 MSc nursing students presented a nursing scenario to their peers and feedback was later generated from the total group. At least seven minority ethnic groups, who were new to the country, were represented. The role play was later examined using theoretical frameworks to guide the analysis. This article provides analysis of the breaking of bad news, giving information through exploring, questioning and reassurance, touch, and, finally, empathy and humanism. The second article will explore and examine ethical issues, such as truth-telling and autonomy, that were also evidenced in the role play. Other themes were personal constraints such as family stress and counselling. This article begins by introducing readers to the role play situation. The number of communication concepts identified in this short 20-minute role play positively support the authors' argument that communication is the essence of nursing care.