Communication Challenges in NHS Practice

Specialty Trainees & Senior Nurses

An Intensive one day workshop for specialty trainees, specialty doctors, clinical nurse specialists and advanced nurse practitioners. Other senior nurses and senior AHPs (Band 6+) are welcome to apply for this workshop.

This course is designed to cover the learning outcomes of an advanced communication workshop for specialty trainees.  This workshop is open to all our partner boards and organisations

Workshop Overview

This successful workshop has now been running for over 20 years. Groups of more senior doctors in training and experienced nurses work together in a small coaching group with two senior tutors. The course content is highly interactive with interview demonstrations and participant role-play. Each group will set its agenda at the start of the workshop and consider strategies for handling communication challenges from each participant’s own clinical practice. Participants receive individual coaching and support.

Participants from any specialty are very welcome to apply, as are GP registrars.

Topics may include:

• Discussing complex or distressing information
• Handling anger, emotional distress, collusion and denial
• Shared decision-making and informed consent
• Discussing goals of care, levels of intervention and CPR status
• Handling poor performance
• Breaking bad news
• Communication in teams and effective handover
• Addressing and preventing complaints

Learning Outcomes

This clinical communication workshop offers participants the opportunity to:

• Review their current practice in relation to communication in clinical practice and with
  colleagues and other staff.
• Identify personal learning objectives and develop strategies for addressing these within
  a peer learning group.
• Critique and apply relevant literature/ theory on effective communication.
• Consider and take account of patient/carer/colleague perspectives.
• Identify and practise ways of increasing communication effectiveness.
• Exchange ideas and experiences with colleagues from other specialties.

All Tutors are NHS Clinicians