COMMUNICATION IN SERIOUS ILLNESS

This course focuses on developing understanding of communication and theories, frameworks, strategies and evidence to support excellent relational practice for nurses caring for diverse patients experiencing serious, life-limiting illness and their families. Through self-reflection, experiential learning and critical engagement with relevant literature, case studies and media, students will examine the nurses’ roles in “difficult conversations.” Empathy, presence, illness narratives, linguistics, semantics, advance care planning, goals of care, shared decision-making, conflict engagement, inter-professional team communication and critique of communication training programs will be addressed. Students will have opportunities to focus on an area of interest in the context of the course assignments.