Assessment Brief: NUR1001 Communication for Health Professionals.

This assessment focuses on developing and demonstrating effective communication skills essential for health professionals, particularly in nursing practice. Drawing from principles of therapeutic and interprofessional communication, you will explore real-world applications in healthcare settings.

Unit Overview

NUR1001 introduces foundational communication strategies for health professionals. Topics include therapeutic communication techniques, barriers to effective communication, interprofessional collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and patient-centered care. These skills support safe, empathetic, and efficient healthcare delivery.

Assessment Task: Written Essay

Assessment Type: Essay (Assessment 2)

Word Count: 1500 words (±10%)

Weighting: 50% of total unit grade

Due Date: As specified in your learning management system.

Task Description

Write a 1500-word essay that examines the role of effective communication in nursing and healthcare practice. Discuss therapeutic communication techniques, potential barriers, and the importance of interprofessional communication for patient safety and outcomes.

Structure your essay as follows:

1. Introduction (approximately 200 words): Provide an overview of communication in health professions and state the essay’s thesis.
2. Body Section 1 (approximately 500 words): Explain therapeutic communication, including key techniques (e.g., active listening, empathy, open-ended questions) and their benefits for nurse-patient relationships.
3. Body Section 2 (approximately 500 words): Identify common barriers to effective communication (e.g., cultural differences, workload, hierarchy) and strategies to overcome them.
4. Body Section 3 (approximately 300 words): Discuss interprofessional communication and its impact on patient safety and team collaboration.
5. Conclusion (approximately 200 words): Summarize key points and reflect on the importance of ongoing development of communication skills for health professionals.

Submission Guidelines

• Use Harvard referencing style.
• Include at least 8 credible sources, with preference for peer-reviewed articles from 2019 onward.
• Format: 12-point font (Arial or Times New Roman), double-spaced, with 2.5 cm margins.
• Submit via the online portal; include a cover sheet with student declaration.

Marking Criteria

• Depth of understanding of communication concepts (30%)
• Critical analysis and use of evidence (30%)
• Structure, clarity, and academic writing (20%)
• Referencing and adherence to guidelines (20%)

Effective communication skills are critical in nursing, enabling better patient outcomes, reduced errors, and stronger interprofessional teams. Mastering therapeutic communication prepares health professionals for real-world challenges in diverse healthcare environments. This assessment aligns with current standards in Australian nursing education, emphasizing patient-centered and collaborative care.

References

Kwame, A. and Petrucka, P.M. (2021) ‘A literature-based study of patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient interactions: barriers, facilitators, and the way forward’, BMC Nursing, 20(1), p. 158. doi: 10.1186/s12912-021-00684-2.

Abdolrahimi, M. et al. (2017) ‘Therapeutic communication in nursing students: A Walker & Avant concept analysis’, Electronic Physician, 9(8), pp. 4968–4977. doi: 10.19082/4968. (Note: Extended relevance into recent applications.)

Fite, R.O. et al. (2019) ‘Predictors of therapeutic communication between nurses and hospitalized patients’, Heliyon, 5(10), p. e02665. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02665.

Younis, J.R., Mabrouk, S.M. and Kamal, F.H. (2022) ‘Therapeutic communication skills for nursing students: development and validation of a scale’, Healthcare, 10(12), p. 2403. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10122403.

Foronda, C., MacWilliams, B. and McArthur, E. (2016) ‘Interprofessional communication in healthcare: An integrative review’, Nurse Education in Practice, 19, pp. 36–40. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2016.04.005. (Foundational review with ongoing citations in 2019–2025 literature.)