ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module incorporates the effective utilisation of role-play experiences featuring simulation and actors to engage participants in challenging and difficult conversations. Grounded in evidence, this programme is designed to enhance Advanced Communication Skills through experiential learning methods. Participants will have the opportunity to refine their facilitative skills, fostering a patient-centered approach that addresses both the patient and professional agendas.

Module provider

School of Health Sciences

Module Leader

ROBERTS Sarah (Health Sci.)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 18

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

• What are Advanced Communication Skills?


• Breaking bad news


• Handling difficult questions


• Interviewing skills


• Facilitating skills


• Distancing strategies


• Handling difficult emotions e.g. denial, anger, anxiety


• Assessing and tailoring information to individual needs


• Communication within the multidisciplinary team


• Support and clinical supervision


• Culture and communication


• Barriers to communication


• Equality and diversity

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the development of facilitative communication skills that is evidence based. Students will also critically reflect on their ability to develop advanced skills in person centred communication.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

A critical reflection on the student's communication skills based on an interaction/consultation, involving a patient, carer/parent or family member. Learners will be required to submit:  a 3000-word reflective essay

 

Formative assessment

Submission of a formative one-page assessment plan and the student will take part in an individual role play supported by a small peer group, facilitator and simulation trained actors.

 

Feedback
Feedback on communication skill development will be given through experiential exercises throughout the module.  

The student will take in an individual role play supported by a small peer group, facilitator and simulation trained actors.

Students will also receive feedback:   

• Written feedback on their draft formative submission.

Module aims

• The focus of this module is to implement communication strategies adeptly, with a focus on enhancing the physical and emotional well-being of patients and their caregivers. This goal involves cultivating a nuanced and empathetic approach to communication, tailoring interactions to address both the medical and emotional needs of patients, as well as providing support and guidance to their caregivers. By fostering clear and compassionate communication, this aim seeks to contribute to an overall improvement in the holistic well-being of individuals under care and those closely involved in their support network.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to enable learners to:

• Provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the theory and application of patient-centered communication through a multifaceted approach. This strategy involves immersing students in both theoretical principles and practical exercises, creating a safe and supportive learning environment.


• Students will engage in hands-on communication scenarios designed to mimic real-world situations, allowing them to apply their knowledge in a controlled setting.


• Moreover, constructive feedback mechanisms will be integrated into the learning process, ensuring students receive valuable insights and guidance on skill development within a positive and encouraging educational environment.


• Develop meaningful and cohesive simulation-based education knowledge through exploration of theory and practice-based learning.

• Lectures on patient-centered communication, including reflective practice.


• Facilitated small group work and discussion including feedback, working on a communication issue that the student finds challenging.


• Tutorials to aid development.


• Guided self-directed study on communication issues in the student’s own area of practice.


• Independent study


• Experiential learning methods

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: NURM105

Other information

The school of Health Sciences is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability: This specialised module is expressly designed to empower students in honing advanced communication skills, recognising the pivotal role these skills play in employability within the healthcare sector. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students will acquire not only theoretical knowledge but also practical proficiency in nuanced communication strategies essential for success in diverse professional settings. This targeted focus on advanced communication skills is strategically aligned with the broader goal of preparing graduates to be highly employable, well-equipped to navigate the demands of the healthcare industry with confidence and effectiveness.

Global and cultural capabilities: This specialised module is intricately crafted to empower students in refining advanced communication skills, with a keen recognition of the pivotal role these skills play in global and cultural capabilities within the healthcare sector. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to encompass a comprehensive understanding of cross-cultural communication, acknowledging the diverse backgrounds and perspectives encountered in healthcare settings worldwide. Students will not only gain theoretical insights but also practical proficiency in nuanced communication strategies tailored for success in an increasingly interconnected and culturally diverse professional landscape. This deliberate emphasis on advanced communication skills aligns strategically with the broader goal of preparing graduates to be highly employable, demonstrating a heightened awareness of global and cultural nuances. By fostering these capabilities, students become well-equipped to navigate the complex demands of the healthcare industry with cultural sensitivity, confidence, and effectiveness on a global scale.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: This specialised module is intricately designed to empower students in refining advanced communication skills, underscoring the vital role these skills play in cultivating resourcefulness and resilience within the healthcare sector. The curriculum is thoughtfully structured to not only provide a solid theoretical foundation but also to instil practical proficiency in nuanced communication strategies essential for success in diverse and challenging professional scenarios. The deliberate emphasis on advanced communication skills aligns strategically with the overarching goal of preparing graduates to exhibit resourcefulness and resilience in the face of dynamic healthcare environments.

By honing these skills, students are equipped to navigate unexpected challenges, adapt to evolving circumstances, and maintain effective communication even in demanding situations. This focus on resourcefulness and resilience ensures that graduates emerge from the program with the ability to overcome obstacles, demonstrating adaptability and tenacity in their professional endeavours within the healthcare industry. Ultimately, this module aims to foster a cohort of graduates who not only excel in advanced communication but also embody the resourcefulness and resilience needed to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.