Communication Skills Course
Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:
Define three ways in which healthcare providers can be more effective in their communication with NICU parents.
Describe two ways to communicate with parents that demonstrate your role as a coach and facilitator, rather than an “expert.”
Describe two important principles of communicating bad news to families.
Describe two ways providers can offer culturally sensitive communication and culturally competent care.
Identify three Potentially Better Practices for staff education regarding communication in the NICU.
Define three ways in which healthcare providers can be more effective in their communication with NICU parents.
- What are general principles of communicating with NICU parents?
- How can you partner with parents to engage in collaborative, informed-decision making?
- What is important when communicating with families in crisis?
Describe two ways to communicate with parents that demonstrate your role as a coach and facilitator, rather than an “expert.”
- How can you partner with parents?
- Should you "chat" with parents?
Describe two important principles of communicating bad news to families.
- In what setting should bad news be delivered, and who should be present?
- Should a definitive prognosis be presented, or a range of possible outcomes?
- Should the NICU experience be considered "traumatic"?
- What are the differences between positive stress, tolerable stress, and toxic stress?
- What can be done to minimize parents' risks to develop postpartum depression and/or post-traumatic stress disorder?
Describe two ways providers can offer culturally sensitive communication and culturally competent care.
- What is the importance of understanding health literacy?
- What is the importance of NICU staff examining their own cultural biases?
Identify three Potentially Better Practices for staff education regarding communication in the NICU.
- What are the critical elements of providing psychosocial support about which staff need education?
- Who should be provided with education, and when?
*Completing this course will provide the participant with 1 CEU or 1 CME based on licensure
