In this inaugural issue of Clinics in Perioperative Nursing Care, guest editors Joy Don Baker and Terri Goodman bring their considerable expertise to the topic of Essentials of Communication in Perioperative Nursing. Top experts addresses the increasing complexity and demands of perioperative practice that heighten the need for communicating effectively, whether to facilitate optimal patient outcomes or establish a friendly and productive work environment. In this issue, the authors address the essential aspects of communication that prepare perioperative nurses to meet the unique challenges of perioperative practice