Continuing Professional Development
Communication Skills for Clinicians
Patient-centred communication - breaking bad news, shared decision-making, handover and de-escalation skills.
- track
- Continuing Professional Development
- format
- Self-paced
What this module covers
Patient-centred communication - breaking bad news, shared decision-making, handover and de-escalation skills.
This is a self-paced training module that maps to NMC CPD framework - Category 2 (communication and professionalism). It is delivered inside the MedNext app so clinicians and hospital staff can work through it between shifts, with no live sessions or fixed deadlines.
What it covers in detail
Communication Skills for Clinicians
- Patient-centred consultation skills: active listening, checking understanding and using plain language.
- Breaking bad news using a structured approach such as SPIKES, and responding to emotion.
- Shared decision-making, informed consent conversations and respecting patient values.
- Structured clinical handover using a tool such as SBAR to reduce information loss at transitions of care.
- De-escalating conflict and managing difficult or angry interactions safely.
Who should complete this, and why
Communication failures are among the most common root causes of complaints and adverse events, so these skills matter to every clinician who speaks with patients, families and colleagues. The NMC CPD framework recognises communication and professionalism as an area of ongoing development for all registered practitioners.
What you will be able to do after this module
On completion you should be able to
- Run a patient-centred consultation that checks understanding.
- Break bad news using a structured approach.
- Conduct a shared-decision and consent conversation.
- Hand over safely using a structured tool and de-escalate conflict.
Frequently asked questions
What is SPIKES?
SPIKES is a structured six-step approach to breaking bad news: Setting, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Emotions and Strategy or summary. It gives clinicians a reliable framework for a difficult conversation.
Why use SBAR for handover?
SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) standardises the transfer of clinical information so that critical details are not lost at shift change or transfer, a frequent point where errors occur.
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Learn moreStart Communication Skills for Clinicians in the MedNext app
Explore clinician-written learning resources, structured revision and practice across the MedNext platform.
Open in the MedNext appSee plans