Duration
15h Th, 15h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in Nursing Sciences, professional focus in advanced practices | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
If a student fails an examination during the first term:
- They are permitted to resit the assessed subject during the second term (May-June);
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This teaching unit aims to develop effective communication strategies in health care by treating communication as a clinical skill in its own right.
The topics covered include:
- Communication in the field of health.
- Interpersonal and interprofessional communication.
- Communication centered on the patient, their loved ones, and their needs.
- Communication in difficult, conflictual, or high-stakes situations.
- Managing emotions and reactions in professional interactions.
- Leadership and team communication.
- Decision-making and coordination within a team.
- Technology-mediated communication.
- Documentation and traceability of clinical information.
- Transparency, patient safety, and the ethical issues related to communication.
- Communication in the context of uncertainty, error, or undesirable events.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Upon completion of this teaching unit, the student will be able to apply communication strategies tailored to different care contexts to support clinical effectiveness, patient safety, and quality teamwork.
The course emphasizes developing skills that can be applied directly in professional practice, particularly in complex care settings. The student will notably be able to:
- Identify the main issues and factors that influence communication in healthcare.
- Adapt communication to the characteristics of patients, their relatives, and the professionals involved.
- Use communication strategies that promote collaboration and interprofessional teamwork.
- Communicate in a structured, clear, and effective manner in complex clinical situations.
- Adapt communication in difficult, conflictual, or emotionally charged situations.
- Use appropriate strategies when announcing sensitive information or an undesirable event.
- Identify and consider the psychological, emotional, cultural, and contextual factors that influence communication.
- Develop a leadership posture that promotes coordination, decision-making, and safety within a team.
- Use different communication channels and tools, including digital technologies, appropriately.
- Ensure that clinical documentation is relevant, clear, and secure.
- Identify the ethical issues related to communication, particularly transparency, confidentiality, and patient safety.
- Analyze one's own communication, identify one's strengths and areas for improvement, and develop a reflective approach.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
None
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The teaching methods combine knowledge acquisition, analysis of clinical situations, individual and group reflection, and practical application. They aim to promote the transfer of learning to professional settings.
Theoretical sessions
- Presentation of key communication concepts and models.
- Presentation of models of critical and structured communication.
- Contributions from the psychology of communication and emotions.
- Acquisition of the concepts, foundations, and vocabulary necessary for analyzing communication situations.
- Presentation of the principles of interprofessional communication and leadership.
- Transmission of essential knowledge before its implementation.
- Constant linking of theoretical concepts to situations encountered in professional practice.
- Analysis of real or fictional clinical situations.
- Identification of communication issues and factors influencing the situation.
- Research and comparison of communication strategies tailored to the problem posed.
- Analysis of medical errors or adverse events.
- Analysis of ethical dilemmas within a team.
- Analysis of conflict situations or difficult communication.
- Taking into account cultural and contextual factors.
- Direct application of theoretical concepts to concrete situations.
- Group discussion and confrontation of different points of view.
- Scenario in a controlled environment.
- Use of role-playing games and, where relevant, digital tools.
- Experimentation with real-time communication strategies.
- Communication in emergency situations or situations of high cognitive load.
- Transmission of critical information.
- Managing difficult or conflictual communication.
- Announcement of sensitive information or a serious diagnosis.
- Communication with a patient, a relative, or a professional in a complex emotional situation.
- Role-playing exercise involving leadership and team coordination.
- Briefing and debriefing to analyze observed behaviors, strategies used, and opportunities for improvement.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
The course is taught in person only.
However, some learning activities or preparatory work may be done remotely, especially when they involve group work or activity preparation.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- Microsoft Teams
Further information:
This course requires no textbooks.
We will provide the necessary teaching and course materials, bibliographic references, and reading notes as the course progresses.
All teaching resources (course materials, notes, case studies, exercises, and other materials) will be available on Microsoft Teams.
Students are encouraged to regularly check the course space to become familiar with the resources and instructions provided.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam
Written work / report
Out-of-session test(s)
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam
Written work / report
Out-of-session test(s)
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam
Written work / report
Out-of-session test(s)
Further information:
The assessment aims to evaluate knowledge acquisition, the ability to apply concepts in complex situations, and the student's ability to adopt a reflective stance.
The evaluation comprises three complementary components:
Written Assessment
The written assessment will take the form of open questions and/or situations for analysis.
The student will need to use acquired knowledge, develop an argument, and structure their thinking.
The responses will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Accuracy and relevance of the knowledge used.
- Ability to apply communication concepts and models.
- Relevance of the proposed situation analysis.
- Rigor and coherence of the argumentation.
- Ability to propose strategies adapted to the context.
- Clarity and structure of written expression.
The oral assessment will take the form of a direct exchange with the teacher.
The student may be required to explain their reasoning, delve deeper into certain elements of the course, or analyze a communication situation.
The responses will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Ability to synthesize information.
- Ability to use and transfer knowledge.
- Responsiveness and adaptability to questions or changes in the situation.
- Analytical and argumentation skills.
- Clarity and structure of the argument.
- Relevance of the proposed communication strategy.
Group reflective work will be an integral part of the assessment.
It will focus on analyzing a communication situation related to professional practice and should highlight students' ability to articulate experience, theoretical concepts, and analysis and reflection on practice.
The evaluation will focus on:
- Relevance of the situation analysis.
- Application of concepts and models covered in the course.
- Quality of critical thinking and the ability to identify different communication strategies.
- Consideration of relational, interprofessional, ethical, and organizational dimensions.
- Ability to suggest avenues and develop a reflective stance.
For all assessments, the objective is not only to verify knowledge recall but also to evaluate the student's ability to use this knowledge in relevant ways in complex professional situations.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
CELCAT will announce schedules and locations. Students are advised to regularly check this platform for any organizational changes.
Instructions for assignments, group activities, and assessments will be communicated during sessions and/or via Microsoft Teams.
Active participation in the proposed activities is encouraged, particularly in case studies, simulations, role-playing, and reflective work.
Contacts
Jennifer Joris
jennifer.joris@uliege.be
Michael Ghilissen
michael.ghilissen@uliege.be
Office hours are by appointment only, upon prior request by email.