This course focuses on developing advanced communication skills for complex healthcare interactions, including telehealth and cross-cultural patient encounters. Learners explore how to build empathy, establish rapport, and maintain professionalism in virtual environments. The course emphasizes culturally competent communication, emotional awareness, and strategies for addressing challenging or sensitive situations.



Special Communication Situations in Healthcare
This course is part of Nursing Leadership Specialization

Instructor: Amber Vanderburg
Access provided by Orascom Construction
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Demonstrate effective bedside and telehealth communication skills.
Build rapport and provide empathetic, culturally competent care.
Communicate clearly and compassionately in emotionally charged situations.
Use key Spanish phrases to support communication with patients.
Skills you'll gain
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8 assignments
October 2025
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There are 2 modules in this course
This module prepares students to deliver compassionate, effective care through virtual healthcare platforms while maintaining the therapeutic relationships essential to nursing practice. Students will explore the unique dynamics of telehealth communication, learning to seek understanding and practice active listening in virtual environments where traditional nonverbal cues may be limited. The module emphasizes strategies for building rapport remotely, enhancing communication skills specific to telehealth technologies, and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries while demonstrating cultural competence across diverse patient populations. Students will also examine techniques for managing emotions during virtual encounters and sustaining long-term patient relationships through telehealth modalities. Through this exploration, learners will develop the specialized communication competencies necessary to provide patient-centered care in telehealth settings, adapt traditional bedside manner to virtual platforms, and ensure quality care delivery in an increasingly digital healthcare landscape.
What's included
6 videos3 readings4 assignments
This module equips students with essential Spanish language skills to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients and reduce healthcare disparities. Students will explore the rationale and effective strategies for learning medical Spanish as a clinician, including how to introduce themselves professionally and obtain informed consent in Spanish. The module covers vocabulary for hospital departments and common medical terminology, essential questions for patient assessment, and phrases for describing symptoms accurately. Students will learn to explain medical procedures clearly, provide instructions for treatments and medications, and offer emotional support to patients and families in Spanish. Through this practical introduction, learners will develop basic Spanish communication competencies that enable them to deliver more culturally responsive care, build trust with Spanish-speaking patients, and enhance patient safety in diverse healthcare settings.
What's included
7 videos7 readings4 assignments
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Lecturio

University of California San Diego

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