[Communication with the patient. A question of quality]

Interpersonal communication as a means to promote health and well-being is presented as a strategical orientation in the nursing care process. Meanwhile, in our medium, we have observed the development of communication from a perspective much more related to complying with a service. This article has these objectives: a) to investigate this theme by highlighting analytical instruments of interaction found in bibliographical references, b) to disclose the results of research about nurse-patient communication indicators, in the context as a forum for reflection, bearing in mind the quality of treatment. The authors highlight the need to assume a responsibility shared by teaching nurses and assistants, with the goal to constantly seek to develop communicative competence and thus to contribute to a greater efficiency and an improvement in the quality of nursing care.