Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Communication Skills for Health Professionals

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

REHA2241

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2025

Course Coordinator: Emily McDonald

Course Coordinator Phone: +6139925

Course Coordinator Email: emily.mcdonald2@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

 

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses

Successful completion of:

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.

For information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.

 

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed the following courses before you commence this course.

OR

OR

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. 

 

Required Concurrent Study

You should undertake the following courses at the same time as this course as it contains areas of knowledge and skills which are implemented together in practice.

OR

OR

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. 


Course Description

This course will enable students to gain an understanding of communication skills important for health professionals as well as an awareness of common psychological conditions that can impact on therapeutic engagement. The course will introduce students to a range of communication techniques that are essential for health professionals including rapport building and interviewing skills, strategies for developing and maintaining good therapeutic alliance with patients and other healthcare professionals, The course will also introduce applying professional ethics, and the concept of professional identity. Focus will also be placed on common psychological conditions that can impact on therapeutic engagement, such as anxiety and depression. Students will also be introduced to strategies to tailor their communication for specific audiences, with consideration to age, gender, and culture.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP321 Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiations) (aligned to the Accreditation Standards of the Medical Radiations Practice Board of Australia):

Standard 1

  • Assess the patient’s/client’s capacity to receive care (1.e)

Standard 2

  • Practise in an ethical and professional manner, consistent with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements (2.a)
  • Provide each patient/client with dignity and care (2.b)
  • Take responsibility and accountability for professional decisions (2.c)
  • Advocate on behalf of the patient/client when appropriate (2.d)

Standard 3

  • Communicate clearly, sensitively and effectively with the patient/client and their family or carers (3.a)


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key principles of culturally competent communication in a professional health care setting.
  2. Demonstrate an awareness of your role as a healthcare professional, an understanding of the codes of conduct for healthcare professionals and the concept of patient-centred care.
  3. Describe common psychological conditions that impact on treatment adherence and the support that is available for these patients
  4. Demonstrate an awareness of culturally safe healthcare practice, particularly for First Nations People.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will learn through a range of activities including lectures, self-directed study and team-based discussions. This course is supported by RMIT's online learning management system (LMS).


Overview of Learning Resources

A range of learning and teaching strategies are employed in this course. The lectures will introduce you to key concepts relating to the principles of communication. These will be complemented with case-based discussions and essential reading.

You will be provided with the essential information and opportunity to practise, but you will need to supplement this with further reading and self-directed study. You will be required to reflect on your progress and performance in the course at regular intervals. Additionally, you should identify areas for development and address these with the aid of course teaching staff where appropriate.

The course requires you to engage with the Canvas learning environment regularly. Specific learning materials including suggested readings, links to relevant internet sites and other electronic resources will be located on Canvas. You will be required to complete regular activities via Canvas and, where possible, use Canvas to submit your written assessments.

A key aspect of the program is fostering a thriving learning community and for this course the building blocks for this utilise the Canvas discussion board tools. You will be expected to engage regularly with your peers and tutors and key learning will take place via online question and answer sessions.

The final approach to teaching and learning relates to assessment for learning. The assessment tasks for this course are designed to ensure maximum understanding of the content and it is important that you recognise the role of assessment in your learning. You should view the assessment tasks as part of your learning and ensure that you utilise the feedback to progress your learning and personal development.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Case Study

Weighting 45%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3

Assessment Task 2: Video presentations

Weighting 40%

This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3 & 4

Assessment Task 3: Quizzes

Weighting 15%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4