Course Title: Interpersonal Health Care Communication and Practice

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Interpersonal Health Care Communication and Practice

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

Course Coordinator: Dr Alistair Ross

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6634

Course Coordinator Email: alistair.ross@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

There are no pre-requisite or co-requisite requirements associated with this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. For further information go to:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit/he


Course Description

This course will provide for you an introduction to a variety of communication strategies that can be used in the health care setting. You will begin to develop an awareness of self as a foundation for effective communication and consider the approaches used for contemporary counselling. You will also begin to translate the knowledge gained into communicating with the aggressive and grieving person. This course will provide an opportunity for you to consider the many facets of communication and the role they play in the patient care setting.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Objectives and Course Learning Objectives:

  • This course will contribute to the Program Learning Objectives identified by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse through the following Course Learning Objectives:

2: Practices within a professional and ethical nursing framework

  • identify the role of contemporary counselling in clinical practice

7: Provides comprehensive, safe and effective evidence based nursing care to achieve identified individual / group outcomes

  • discuss the nurse patient relationship and the role of communication
  • review a variety of communication strategies and their particular relevance in different settings

8: Evaluates progress towards expected individual / group health outcomes in consultation with individuals / groups, significant others and interdisciplinary team

  • consider self-awareness as a foundation for effective communication
  • demonstrate effective communication with the person demonstrating challenging behaviours

(Reference : Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse)

Graduate Capabilities
The capabilities that are developed through the program in which you are enrolled are described in the Program Guide. This course will contribute to the development of the following RMIT capabilities

  • 3. Environmentally aware and responsible
  • 4. Culturally and socially aware


Learning Outcomes:
This course will begin to challenge you to develop a suite of communication strategies for the patient care setting
This course will prepare you to

  • consider the impact of effective communication in dealing with persons in a variety of different settings
  • review the importance of effective inter personal skills for the health care clinician


Overview of Learning Activities

This course will use a range of learning activities including lectures, discussions and self-directed learning. Throughout the course you will be able to work both independently and in groups to aid development of your theoretical knowledge and its application to interpersonal health care communication and skills.
Learning activities may include modalities such as lectures, podcasts and Lectopia, Wiki’s Blogs and discussion board.

Lectures: Lectures and lecture notes are the principal mode of information delivery and will present you with the key concepts and information relevant to the understanding of communication and health care practice. You will be expected to participate in classroom discussions and to contribute to the learning experiences of your student colleagues.

Self-Directed Learning: You are expected to undertake self-directed learning activities to develop and consolidate knowledge throughout this learning experience. The activities associated with this course are designed to enable you to better develop independent learning skills to support your commitment to lifelong learning as a nursing professional and a university graduate. The self-directed learning activities will support your knowledge of the material covered in the formal learning program and enhance the consolidation and application of that knowledge.


Overview of Learning Resources

The learning resources associated with this course will include targeted readings taken from a range of both primary and secondary sources. Where possible all material chosen will be digitally available to you. Lecture material may be delivered using a variety of flexible learning modes such as Lectopia, Discussion Board or workshops and group work. These modes will be utilised at the discretion of your lecturer. RMIT will provide you with additional resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems accessed via your myRMIT site.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment associated with this course will comprise both formative and summative assessment and incorporate a variety of assessment modes. This may include but not restricted to the following: participation in discussion formats, examinations, assignments and clinical practice laboratories. It may also include use of online technology in the form of a critically reflective online journal or blog or on line quizzes.

The formative assessment associated with this course will consider all of the identified objectives as these are built upon over the length of your course. You will be expected to provide demonstration of your learning in the form of an assignment and also by your active participation and presentation in a tutorial setting.

  • consider self-awareness as a foundation for effective communication
  • discuss the nurse patient relationship and the role of communication
  • identify the role of contemporary counselling in clinical practice
  • review a variety of communication strategies and their particular relevance in different settings
  • demonstrate effective communication with the person demonstrating challenging behaviours

The summative assessment will assess your learning in the form of an examination. The assessments over the duration of the course may make use of a variety of face to face and on line technologies. Assessments are designed to require students to demonstrate a critical analysis of the core principles presented in the course.

For information on grades used in RMIT courses see:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/grading/highered

Assessment completed in the first half of the semester will provide feedback on your progress. Ongoing feedback on your knowledge and application will be provided from peers and academic staff. Feedback to students is provided in a variety of ways including verbal and group feedback. Individual feedback is not always provided in a written format.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

This course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced, at:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment