Course Title: Apply communication skills in nursing practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2017

Course Code: NURS5373C

Course Title: Apply communication skills in nursing practice

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5365 - Diploma of Nursing

Course Contact: Jaye Keating

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254845

Course Contact Email: jaye.keating@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Program Manager: Jaye Keating

 

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are no pre-requisites for this unit of competency

Course Description

 

This course describes the skills and knowledge required to apply effective communication skills with a person, family or carer and with other healthcare professionals in a variety of health care settings.

 

Communication skills in nursing practice require using information technology as well as interpersonal skills applied therapeutically in nursing care and small group discussions.

 

This course applies to enrolled nursing work carried out in consultation and collaboration with registered nurses, and under supervisory arrangements aligned to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulatory authority legislative requirements.

 

This course includes a Work Integrated Learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/or community is integral to your experience.


This course includes clinical placement


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTENN002 Apply communication skills in nursing practice

Element:

1. Use effective communication skills in complex situations.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Apply principles of effective communication to facilitate, not inhibit, communication with the person. 1.2 Maximise opportunities to involve the person and family or carer in their care and treatment. 1.3 Clarify roles and responsibilities of the interdisciplinary health care team involved in communicating in complex situations, including clarifying own role as an enrolled nurse. 1.4 Demonstrate politeness, respect and empathy in all interactions with the person, family or carer. 1.5 Use health terminology correctly in written and verbal communication with the person, family or carer and with colleagues.

Element:

2. Identify and address actual and potential constraints to communication.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify early signs of potentially complex communication situations with a person, including with people who have hearing or vision impairments and require assistance. 2.2 Implement strategies to address complex communication situations in accordance with relevant policies and procedures, and within scope of role. 2.3 Demonstrate advocacy for a person in the health or community care setting.

Element:

3. Use information technology to support communication in nursing practice.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Use computers and related information technology to access, develop and adhere to reporting requirements according to organisation policy and procedures. 3.2 Comply with organisation policy and procedures for electronic communication with the person, family or carer. 3.3 Use information technology including the internet to access data appropriate to own role and organisation policy and procedures. 3.4 Apply ethical principles and follow regulatory responsibilities when using social media and interacting online in nursing role. 3.5 Maintain accurate documentation and adhere to reporting requirements to support safe practice according to organisation policy and procedures.

Element:

4. Lead small group discussions.

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Monitor and respond appropriately to changing group dynamics. 4.2 Clarify the purpose of group meetings and manage discussion to achieve identified objectives. 4.3 Implement meeting procedures appropriate to the meeting's purpose. 4.4 Clarify participants' roles and use communication strategies to support their effective contribution to discussion.

Element:

5. Give and receive feedback for performance improvement.

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Identify effective communication strategies for giving and receiving feedback on own performance. 5.2 Apply strategies that deliver constructive outcomes in giving and receiving feedback. 5.3 Use appropriate language and a respectful manner in giving and receiving feedback.

Element:

6. Evaluate effectiveness of communication in complex situations.

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Participate in debriefing sessions following communication for complex situations. 6.2 Document, consider and report outcomes of communication strategies used to address complex situations.

Learning Outcomes


 

The critical learning for this course takes place in clinical placement within the health sector and within simulations in RMIT laboratories.

You will be instructed in skills through demonstration, modelling and role-play. Skills development is supported by lectures on theory and underpinning knowledge, classroom discussions, group work, research and reflective practice.

 

On completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Use effective communication skills in complex situations.

    1.2 Maximise opportunities to involve the person and family or carer in their care and treatment.

    1.3 Clarify roles and responsibilities of the interdisciplinary health care team involved in communicating in complex situations, including clarifying own role as an enrolled nurse.

    1.4 Demonstrate politeness, respect and empathy in all interactions with the person, family or carer.

    1.5 Use health terminology correctly in written and verbal communication with the person, family or carer and with colleagues.

  2. Identify and address actual and potential constraints to communication.

    2.1 Identify early signs of potentially complex communication situations with a person, including with people who have hearing or vision impairments and require assistance.

    2.2 Implement strategies to address complex communication situations in accordance with relevant policies and procedures, and within scope of role.

    2.3 Demonstrate advocacy for a person in the health or community care setting.

  3. Use information technology to support communication in nursing practice.

    3.1 Use computers and related information technology to access, develop and adhere to reporting requirements according to organisation policy and procedures.

    3.2 Comply with organisation policy and procedures for electronic communication with the person, family or carer.

    3.3 Use information technology including the internet to access data appropriate to own role and organisation policy and procedures.

    3.4 Apply ethical principles and follow regulatory responsibilities when using social media and interacting online in nursing role.

    3.5 Maintain accurate documentation and adhere to reporting requirements to support safe practice according to organisation policy and procedures.

  4. Lead small group discussions.

    4.1 Monitor and respond appropriately to changing group dynamics.

    4.2 Clarify the purpose of group meetings and manage discussion to achieve identified objectives.

    4.3 Implement meeting procedures appropriate to the meeting’s purpose.

    4.4 Clarify participants’ roles and use communication strategies to support their effective contribution to discussion.

  5. Give and receive feedback for performance improvement.

    5.1 Identify effective communication strategies for giving and receiving feedback on own performance.

    5.2 Apply strategies that deliver constructive outcomes in giving and receiving feedback.

    5.3 Use appropriate language and a respectful manner in giving and receiving feedback.

  6. Evaluate effectiveness of communication in complex situations.

    6.1 Participate in debriefing sessions following communication for complex situations.

    6.2 Document, consider and report outcomes of communication strategies used to address complex situations.


Details of Learning Activities

All learning activities you will undertake within the course are designed to provide you with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to perform to the standard expected in the health industry.

Learning activities include:

Lectures – introduce you to the key concepts within the course
Practical workshops – provide an opportunity to practise your skills in a simulated work environment
Work placement – provides you with practical experience in a nursing workplace.


Teaching Schedule

Session

Content

Assessment

Semester 2

Week 1

 Introduction to communication 

Types of communication

Clinical placement

 

Semester 2

Week 2

 Factors influencing communication; includes barriers of communication, active listening and non-verbal communication

Clinical placement

Scenario and Reflection

Semester 2

Week 3

Communication at work

Health terminology.

Simulation and   role-play on clinical handover.

Clinical placement

Semester 2

Week 4

Therapeutic Communication and Open Disclosure

Clinical placement

Lead a group discussion

Semester 2

Week 5

Assessment Task 2:

Lead a group discussion on Open Disclosure

(COMPULSORY)

Assessment task

Semester 2

Week 6

Communication In complex Situation.

 

Clinical placement

 

Semester 2

Week 8

Documentaion:

Includes practice documentation, Familiarisng with clinical documents, feedback techniques and Debriefing.

Clinical placement

 

Semester 2

Week 9

Clinical handover: includes definition , recording reporting,effective clinical handover

Clinical placement

Simulated scenario

 

Semester 2

Week 10

Practice clinical hand over in Lab

Clinical placement

Simulated scenario

Semester 2

Week 11

Medical terminology

Practicing clinical abbreviations in groups.

Clinical placement

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Learning materials, Library, Text books E.g.Koutoukidis, G Stainton, K Hughson, J. (2016) Tabbners Nursing Care. Theory and (7th ed)  Sydney: Elsevier.

  • Mosby, (2016) Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions. (10th ed) Sydney: Elsevier.
    Online as eBook- 3 simultaneous users.

  • Hutton, A.R. (2016) An Introduction to Medical Terminology for Health Care. A Self- Teaching Package. (5th  ed) Churchill Livingstone.



Overview of Assessment

 

Assessment Tasks

 

Assessment Task 1:  

Lead a group discussion on Open disclosure

This assessment task supports CLO 4 & 6

Assessment Task 2:  

Part A Simulation/scenario/roleplay - clinical handover

Part B Reflection

This assessment task supports CLOs 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 3: 

Clinical Placement

This assessment task supports Course Learning Outcome (CLOs) 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

 

You will be provided with an assessment overview for the course and a descriptor for each assessment task.


Feedback is provided on each assessment.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment task 1 -. Lead a group discussion on Open disclosure :

In groups of 5 you will lead a group discussion on Open Disclosure Scenarios.

Assessment is based on peer and self evaluation.

.Assessment task 2 PART A –  Clinical hand over followed by self-evaluation and debriefing.

Assessment Task  2 PART B-students are required to hand over in a simulated environment and a reflection on their simulation experience . Self-evaluation and debriefing are part of the assessment.

Assignment3–   Clinical placement

Students are required to show  effective communication skill at the work place according to legal and ethical practices required  and also demonstrate effective use of IT techniques.

 

All the submissions are made online through Blackboard and a  feedback from your tutor will be provided in Turnitin.  

You will be graded Competent or Not Yet Competent.


Assessment Matrix

 

 

AT 1

AT 2

AT3

1

1.1

×

×

×

1.2

×

 

 

1.3

×

 

 

1.4

×

 

 

1.5

×

×

 

2

2.1

×

 

 

2.2

×

×

 

2.3

×

 

 

3

3.1

×

 

×

3.2

×

 

×

3.3

×

 

 

3.4

×

 

 

3.5

×

 

 

4

4.1

×

 

 

4.2

×

 

 

4.3

×

 

 

4.4

×

 

 

5

5.1

×

×

×

5.2

×

×

 

5.3

×

×

×

 

6

6.2

×

×

 

6.3

×

 

 

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT Student Page for extensive information about study support, assessments, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students

Cover Sheets

You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of work submitted in hard copy. For every piece of work submitted online, you will complete an e-Declaration. This cover sheet or e-Declaration acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.  Students are encouraged to submit their work through Turnitin.

Attendance

It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensure the maximum opportunity to gain competency. The lab session is a compulsory requirement as it needs to be ticked off before your Clinical placement.

Special Consideration

Use the special consideration process if your circumstances are such that you cannot fulfil assessment requirements. For example, if you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by a due date, you will need to apply for an extension.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity for more information.

Working with Children Check (remove if not applicable)

This course requires a Working with Children Check.

Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer

If you think you have some or all of the knowledge and competencies described, please discuss the Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer options with may be available to you with your Course Coordinator: For more information go to: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit

Course Overview: Access Course Overview