HCP & Parent Communications Course 1
Communicating Complex Medical Content
Communicating with parents and caregivers in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) requires nuance that considers their fears and anxieties. Both lessons in this learning unit will help you understand parents’ and caregivers’ communication needs and effective engagement techniques and provide tools to involve families in care and decision-making, fostering realistic expectations and self-reliance.
Lesson 1
TAILORED Communication
In the NICU, complex medical jargon can heighten anxiety for parents and caregivers. To help you improve communication, this training outlines the T-A-I-L-O-R-E-D approach to NICU discussions: Topic, AIm, LOcation and timing, RoutE, and Design. By personalizing discussions around these factors, you can engage more effectively using empathetic dialogue and appropriate questioning that considers the diverse language and educational backgrounds of your patients’ families.
TAILORED Communication
Lesson 2
Empathetic Communication and Emotional Support
Families are vital members of the NICU team. Involving them in every possible aspect of care and clinical decision-making is key to instilling self-reliance and preparing them for the future. Learn about valuable tools and techniques for providing educational content that engages parents and caregivers in their infant’s care and helps set informed, realistic expectations.
Empathetic Communication and Emotional Support
Additional Resource
White Paper on Communicating Complex Medical Content
Communicating Complex Medical Content offers additional context and insights to help you apply what you’ve learned. It provides contextual information to help you communicate, including implementing a multidisciplinary approach that fully addresses the psychosocial needs of NICU families.
Quiz
Test Your Knowledge: Communicating Complex Information
Loading Quiz…
NPO=nil per os (nothing by mouth)