Communication in Cancer Care
Validated by the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences at Kingston University and St George’s, University of London.
| Who is it for |
Nurses and allied health professionals |
| Duration |
5 days |
| Dates |
16, 17, 30 April, 1 and 14 May 2013
12, 13, 26, 27 November, 10 December 2013
15, 16, 29, 30 April, 13 May 2014 |
| Cost |
£825 for academic year 2012/13, £860 for 2013/14 (overseas student prices will vary) |
| Academic credits |
15 credits at level 5 (diploma) or level 6 (degree) |
| Assessment |
Level 5: audio recording and 1,100-word essay
Level 6: audio recording and 1,600-word essay |
Course summary
Working in cancer care means facing situations where patients and/or relatives are distressed. Health professionals often feel intimidated by these situations and this course aims to equip students with the skills and confidence to manage these and other challenging situations.
In general, good communication is central to effective cancer treatment and care. This module will help students to develop their skills and encourage them to assess and support the emotional and psychological needs of cancer patients and their families.
Students will practise skills throughout the course, develop an enhanced level of self-awareness and consider a wide range of communication issues.
On the course there will be a focus on developing a safe environment within which to facilitate reflection and integration of practice and theory. Students will use their experiences in the clinical setting to assist their learning in this classroom through reflective practice and audio analysis of their communications.
Key topics
- Definitions and theories of communication
- Self-awareness development through role-play
- Challenges and barriers to effective communication
- Questioning types and uses
- Developing rapport
- Empowering patients
Entry requirements
Applicants should currently be caring for patients with cancer.
Student support
Tutorials with the module leader or personal tutor are available if students require additional help with the planning and writing of their assignments. Email and telephone support is also available from the module leader / personal tutor.
The Royal Marsden School of Cancer Nursing and Rehabilitation use an online learning environment called SCaNaR which students must access during their studies to support and enhance our courses. The site provides resources and communication tools. All students will be provided with a username and password to access module-specific sections as well as general learning support such as study skills and library resources.
Students also have access to the David Adams Library and Electronic Resource Centre.
Further study opportunities
This stand-alone module also forms part of these programmes: