Minimum Course Hours: 35

Course Description

Learners will examine the foundational knowledge of caring and professional communication in nursing. Using an experiential and self‐reflective approach, learners will develop self‐awareness and interpersonal communication skills in the context of safe, competent, and collaborative nursing practice. Topics include communication theory, therapeutic relationships, therapeutic communication, cultural safety, cultural humility, and effective teamwork.

Prerequisites: Admission to the Practical Nursing Program

Corequisites: Professional Practice 1; Integrated Nursing Practice 1; Variations in Health 1; Health Promotion 1; Pharmacology 1

Note: This course may be taught as an interprofessional course and/or by faculty other than those with a professional nursing qualification.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe how the current British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) LPN Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and Entry-Level Competencies guide professional communication with clients, families, and the interprofessional team.
   • 1.1 Explore the relevant documents that apply to professional communication.
   • 1.2. Discuss how these documents inform practice.
2. Describe fundamental elements involved in the communication process.
   • 2.1 Discuss the basic elements of any interpersonal communication process: sender, receiver, message, and feedback.
   • 2.2 Describe common barriers to communication.
   • 2.3 Describe the characteristics of effective communication and factors that influence ineffective communication.
   • 2.4 Explore the difference between verbal and non-verbal communication.
3. Explain the foundational concepts and nursing actions that promote the development, maintenance, and conclusion of therapeutic relationships, including trauma-informed communication.
   • 3.1 Identify communication skills that support therapeutic relationships, including active listening, empathy, and caring.
   • 3.2 Describe components of the nurse-client relationship, including the family as a client.
   • 3.3 Define self-awareness and self-concept.
   • 3.4 Explain the role of self-awareness and self-concept in nursing therapeutic relationships.
   • 3.5 Describe the role of attending and its relationship to therapeutic communication.
   • 3.6 Describe trauma-informed communication and its role in therapeutic relationships.
   • 3.7 Describe communication barriers and challenges to therapeutic relationships and identify strategies to overcome them.
4. Reflect on how the nurse’s privileges, biases, values, belief structures, behaviours, and positions of power may impact their therapeutic relationship with Indigenous clients.
   • 4.1 Discuss the characteristics of culturally sensitive communication.
   • 4.2 Identify effective and culturally safe communication strategies for working with Indigenous clients, their families, and peers.
5. Discuss the foundational competencies and specific communication skills that foster strong, effective interprofessional teams and collaborative practice.
   • 5.1 Identify effective group behaviours and development.
   • 5.2 Describe how information and communication technology is used to support effective client care in collaboration with other members of the health care team.
   • 5.3 Identify principles of effective teamwork communication.
   • 5.4 Discuss digital professionalism and appropriate methods for communicating through technology.
6. Practise giving and receiving effective feedback through role plays, scenarios, and other applied practices.
   • 6.1 Describe the steps to effectively receive expected and unexpected feedback.
   • 6.2 Identify personal factors that may trigger defensive responses to feedback.
   • 6.3 Explore strategies for giving and receiving feedback with unregulated care providers, interprofessional team members, clients and families, peers, and instructors.

Course Concepts

Course outcomes will be met through examination and exploration of the following:

• BCCNM LPN Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and documents that guide scope of practice
• Professional communication in health care
• Therapeutic relationships and communication
• Communication theory
• Trauma-informed communication
• Self-awareness
• Attending and listening
• Caring and empathy
• Clarifying by questioning and summarizing
• Assertiveness: seeking help and support; refusing a request
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Barriers to communication
• Foundations of relational practice
• Nurse-client relationship
• Helping relationships
• Cultural safety and cultural humility
• Caring and respect
• Family as client
• Developing trusting relationships with clients and team members
• Interprofessional communication
• Conflict resolution
• Effective group participation and development