National Healthcare Language Program Course Outlines
Professional Communication Skills for Nurses
Professional Communication Skills for Nurses Course Outline
Unit 1 – Making introductions and creating rapport
Unit 2 – Taking patient histories
Unit 3 – Understanding symptom descriptions
Unit 4 – Using empathetic responses
Unit 5 – Developing healthcare plans
Unit 6 – Ending a consultation
Expected start date – September 2024
Strategies for CELBAN
Listening
Strategies for CELBAN – Listening helps internationally educated nurses (IENs) develop and enhance the communication strategies and skills they need to listen effectively and communicate clearly with patients. The course content is based on the communication skills competencies for the CELBAN, and a wide range of topics are covered.
This is an online self-study course, monitored by a facilitator, which includes quizzes with authentic audio and video. It is 16 weeks long with 6 to 8 hours per week of independent study.
Minimum CLB requirement: CLB 7
Strategies for CELBAN – Listening Course Outline
Unit 1 – Communication Differences
Unit 2 – Health Descriptions
Unit 3 – Symptom Descriptions
Unit 4 – Purposes and Assumptions
Unit 5 – Factual and Implied Meanings
Unit 6 – Intentions and Advice
Unit 7 – Intonation and Preference
Unit 8 – Attitudes and Emotions
Unit 9 – Distractors and Word Order Patterns
Unit 10 – Sequence and Order
Unit 11 – Transitional and Instructional Language
Unit 12 – Discourse Indicators
Unit 13 – Extensive Discourse and Signaling
Unit 14 – Critical Analysis
Speaking
Strategies for CELBAN – Speaking supports internationally educated nurses (IENs) in developing and enhancing the communication strategies and skills they need to speak and communicate clearly with patients. The course content is based on the communication skills competencies for the CELBAN, and a wide range of topics are covered.
Minimum CLB requirement: CLB 7
This is an online course with weekly synchronous sessions, facilitated by an EAL instructor. It is 16 weeks long with 6 to 8 hours per week of independent study.
Strategies for CELBAN – Speaking Course Outline
Four lessons focus on key discussion skills:
Unit 1 – Describing & Narrating
Unit 2 – Comparing & Contrasting
Unit 3 – Explaining & Discussing
Unit 4 – Giving & Expressing Opinions
Ten lessons focus on patient/nurse interactions:
Unit 5 – Building Rapport
Unit 6 – Listening Effectively
Unit 7 – Asking Questions
Unit 8 – Giving Instructions
Unit 9 – Showing Empathy
Unit 10 – Giving Advice
Unit 11 – Presenting a Plan
Unit 12 – Maintaining Confidentiality
Unit 13 – Ending a Consultation
Unit 14 – Being Culturally Sensitive
Reading
Strategies for CELBAN – Reading supports internationally educated nurses (IENs) in developing and enhancing the communication strategies and skills they need to read effectively in a healthcare setting. Course content is based on the communication skills competencies for the CELBAN, and a range of topics are covered.
This is an online self-study course, monitored by a facilitator. It is 10 weeks long with 6 to 8 hours per week of independent study.
Minimum CLB requirement: CLB 7
Strategies for CELBAN – Reading Course Outline
Unit 1 – Text Types and Reading Strategies
Unit 2 – Textual Features
Unit 3 – Question Types and Scanning
Unit 4 – Skimming and Reading Carefully
Unit 5 – Vocabulary Building
Unit 6 – Inferencing
Unit 7 – Mood, Tone, and Attitude
Unit 8 – Analyzing Information and Drawing Conclusions
Writing
Strategies for CELBAN – Writing supports internationally educated nurses (IENs) in developing and enhancing the communication strategies and skills they need to write effectively and communicate clearly with patients and colleagues. Course content is based on the communication skills competencies for the CELBAN, and a range of topics are covered.
This is an online self-study course, monitored by a facilitator who grades the writing assignments. It is 10 weeks long with 6 to 8 hours per week of independent study.
Minimum CLB requirement: CLB 6
Strategies for CELBAN – Writing Course Outline
Unit 1 – Effective Sentences
Unit 2 – Audience and Purpose
Unit 3 – Organization
Unit 4 – Unity and Coherence
Unit 5 – Verb Tense and Voice
Unit 6 – Narrative Writing
Unit 7 – Persuasive Writing
Unit 8 – Editing and Proofreading
Communication Strategies for Patient Interactions (CSPI)
Communication Strategies for Patient Interactions (CSPI) Course Outline
Unit 1: Building Rapport
– Creating a Welcoming Environment
– Listening Effectively
Unit 2: Conducting Patient Consultations
– Asking Questions
– Giving Instructions
Unit 3: Understanding Patients’ Concerns
– Understanding Health Concerns
– Understanding Symptom Descriptions
Unit 4: Showing Empathy
– Empathizing with Feelings
– Breaking Bad News (IMG), Skimming, Scanning, and Summarizing (IPG)
Unit 5: Offering Advice
– Giving Opinions
– Formulating a Plan
Unit 6: Focusing on Ethics and Patient Recovery
– Practicing Ethically
– Encouraging Patient Involvement
Final Practice: Communication Practice Session
Online and classroom discussions are supplemented by a CSPI communication practice session with simulated patients for IMGs and IPGs at the end of the course. The session includes:
- Simulated patients (SPs)
- Multiple cases for each profession
- Video recording of the interactions
- Debriefing sessions
This session helps IMGs and IPGs practice patient communication skills with multiple cases and SPs; receive feedback from SPs, peers, and instructors; focus on what is most important; and reduce anxiety and gain confidence.