Nursing Leadership Essentials: Effective Communication and Team Building is an intermediate-level course designed to help nurse leaders strengthen coordination, trust, and performance on the front lines of care. Whether you're leading a med-surg unit, supervising rotating teams, or supporting new graduate nurses, your ability to communicate clearly and foster team collaboration directly impacts patient outcomes.

Enjoy unlimited growth with a year of Coursera Plus for $199 (regularly $399). Save now.

Recommended experience
Skills you'll gain
Details to know

Add to your LinkedIn profile
December 2025
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

There are 3 modules in this course
Clear communication is the backbone of safe, effective nursing care—and the first hallmark of true leadership. In this lesson, you'll learn how structured tools like SBAR can turn confusion into clarity during handoffs and high-pressure moments. Through real-world scenarios, hands-on practice, and expert guidance, you'll build confidence using communication techniques that prevent errors and strengthen team trust. Whether you're a new charge nurse or a seasoned RN, this lesson sets the stage for leading with clarity—every shift, every patient.
What's included
3 videos2 readings1 assignment
Even the best teams face conflict—but what separates strong teams is how they handle it. In this lesson, you'll explore the roots of trust and psychological safety in nursing teams, and learn proven strategies to turn tension into teamwork. Through guided reflection, toolkit demonstrations, and real case studies, you'll gain practical skills for resolving conflicts, supporting open dialogue, and creating a culture where every voice matters. This is leadership in action—calm under pressure, clear during disagreement, and committed to growth.
What's included
2 videos1 reading1 assignment
Team building isn't just about bonding or special activities—it’s the daily work of creating a culture where every nurse feels supported, roles are clear, and communication is second nature. In this lesson, you'll shift from learning about teamwork to actually designing the systems and rituals that bring your unit together. You'll explore concrete strategies for building team trust, such as structured shift huddles, clear delegation pathways, and short debriefs after challenging cases. Through real-world examples, you'll see how strong teams turn everyday routines into opportunities for connection, learning, and resilience. By the end, you'll develop a personalized Teamwork Blueprint—a living document that outlines how your team will work, communicate, and support one another. This plan will help you build a positive, high-trust unit culture—so your team doesn't just get through the shift, but grows together shift after shift.
What's included
4 videos1 reading3 assignments
Instructor

Offered by
Explore more from Healthcare Management
Status: Free TrialLecturio
Status: Free Trial
Status: Free TrialLecturio
Status: Free Trial
Why people choose Coursera for their career




Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
More questions
Financial aid available,
¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.




