Soft skills for clinicians: Communication

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates — All 10,000+ Courses at 40% Off

One annual plan covers every course and certificate on Coursera. 40% off for a limited time.

In CREO Soft Skills for Clinicians: Communication Course, you will learn practical techniques to communicate clearly and empathetically with patients, families, and colleagues, even under pressure. The course covers communication fundamentals, styles and channels, and the role of nonverbal signals in building trust and reducing misunderstandings. You’ll also practice high-stakes situations such as delivering challenging news, navigating difficult conversations, staying calm in tense moments, and giving constructive feedback while handling pushback. By the end of the course, you will be able to communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and professionalism to support patient safety, stronger relationships, and better teamwork.

Syllabus

Communication for clinicians

This module builds the core communication skills clinicians need to create trust, reduce misunderstandings, and support better clinical outcomes especially in fast-paced, high-pressure settings. You’ll explore how meaning is conveyed beyond words, how interpretation can shift under stress, and how to maintain the right professional distance by balancing empathy with neutrality. Using the Four Foundational Forces of Clinical Interaction, you’ll learn a practical way to structure patient and team conversations, manage expectations, and communicate clearly in sensitive moments.

How to communicate effectively?

This module turns communication into a practical clinical skill you can apply in everyday interactions with patients, families, and colleagues. You’ll start by defining what communication really is and how different styles, channels, and nonverbal cues shape understanding. You’ll then focus on high-stakes moments in care sharing challenging news, handling difficult conversations, staying calm under pressure, and knowing what to do after a conversation ends. The module also builds your ability to give constructive feedback with the right tone, respond to pushback, and handle resistance so you can protect relationships while maintaining standards of care and teamwork.