Boundaries are important in guiding acceptable and unacceptable interactions. People working in service or care professions are often in situations where the lines between a professional and social relationship become blurred. Setting and keeping professional boundaries are key to protecting your clients, yourself, and the service or care process. The goal of this course is to provide paraprofessionals in health and human services settings with information about professional boundaries, boundary crossings and violations, and situations when crossing a boundary may be acceptable.

Effective communication with patients and families is the foundation for a therapeutic, safe, and positive patient experience. The patient‘s experience of care is greatly influenced by what is communicated and observed. It is also a vital component of obtaining an accurate history and physical assessment, providing informed, comprehensive care, and educating patients and families to achieve optimal outcomes. The goal of this course is to provide information about how to effectively communicate with patients in healthcare settings.

Within healthcare, a patient with limited English proficiency (LEP) is an individual whose primary means of communication is not English and who has a limited command of the language in reading, writing, speaking, or understanding (Office for Civil Rights, 2016). These patients need the careful attention of healthcare personnel to ensure the safety and quality of care. Healthcare professionals should understand regulations and standards related to patients with LEP, such as the use of an interpreter for communication.

The goal of this educational program is to improve the ability of the healthcare team to provide quality care and better outcomes for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP).

Listening skills are an often-undeveloped component of effective communication. Leaders and managers with strong listening skills build more productive and engaged teams with increased effectiveness. In this course, you will learn how managers and leaders can listen actively to build stronger teams and increase their impact. You will also learn the importance of establishing common ground and practicing empathy as you apply the techniques for becoming a better listener.

The goal of this course is to provide managers and leaders with the awareness and skills to be effective communicators.

Medical errors and unanticipated outcomes not only have the potential for devastating consequences, but they are a relatively common occurrence in healthcare. Accordingly, providers must be well-versed in understanding the basic steps of disclosing these events to patients and their families, as well as the legal ramifications of such action. Fortunately, there are models and ethical frameworks that help guide these decisions and conversations, but every provider must determine the approach that is best for their practice.  

You have probably heard about an “IQ” score that measures intelligence, but have you ever heard of “emotional intelligence” or EQ? Emotional intelligence is your ability to understand, express, and manage your emotions, as well as your insight into what the people around you are feeling. EQ can add to your quality of life and contribute to career success. In this course, you’ll learn about developing emotional awareness, which is the foundation of emotional intelligence.

This course is designed to deepen understanding of stroke risk factors and stroke prevention strategies. Learners will explore key medical and lifestyle risk factors that increase the likelihood of stroke. The course emphasizes the importance of prevention and guides healthcare professionals in implementing practical strategies tailored to diverse patient needs. 

Healthcare professionals in acute care settings frequently observe how lifestyle-related choices contribute to health crises and reduced quality of life for their patients. Changing behaviors, such as taking a new medication, quitting smoking, or eating healthier, to improve well-being is a difficult process for many patients. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a person-centered way to support individuals in changing their behavior. MI centers on what matters most to the patient and encourages a curious, accepting, and compassionate stance by the provider. The spirit of MI is demonstrated in the language and way a provider responds to the patient’s uncertainty about change. The provider helps the patient explore their own goals, barriers, and potential impact of making a change. When MI is embedded into the practice of healthcare, the results can be positive for the patient and practitioners.

In this course, you will learn about Motivational Interviewing, an intervention to help people discover their own desire and ability to make difficult changes. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a way of communicating that draws out people’s own thoughts and beliefs in order to help them address their ambivalence about making a change.

The course uses a blend of instructive information and interactive exercises to help you understand and apply its core concepts. The goal of this course is to provide addictions, behavioral health counseling, marriage and family therapy, nursing, psychology, and social work professionals in health and human service settings with the skills to define and demonstrate the core concepts of Motivational Interviewing.