Managing Patient Deaths: Communication & Empathy – Level 2 Course

Managing Patient Deaths: Communication and Empathy – Level 2 – Online Course

Course overview
This online course explores communication and empathy when supporting patients and families during the sensitive circumstances surrounding a patient’s death. It covers offering condolences, making meaningful apologies, applying the Duty of Candour in practice, keeping families informed and accessing specialist support. Learners also consider the support available to healthcare staff and the importance of sensitive, compassionate communication. The course takes 2 hours to complete and is worth 2 CPD points.

Please note: This Level 2 course provides introductory to intermediate knowledge of communication and empathy when managing patient deaths. It does not replace any practical, regulated or role-specific training an employer may require.

What the course covers
• Offering condolences following a patient’s death
• Saying sorry and making a meaningful apology
• The Duty of Candour and its application in practice
• Keeping carers and family members informed
• Communicating sensitively during difficult conversations
• Engaging specialists when additional support is needed
• Providing support for healthcare staff
• Understanding empathy in the context of patient death
• The chronology of tasks associated with managing patient deaths

Who is it for?
This course is suitable for healthcare professionals and support workers who communicate with patients and families during end-of-life care and following a death. It may be relevant to:
• Nurses and nursing professionals
• Healthcare assistants and care support staff
• Social workers supporting individuals and families experiencing loss
• Chaplains and spiritual care providers
• Counsellors and therapists supporting people affected by bereavement
• Staff working in hospitals, hospices, care homes and palliative care services
• Professionals in community care settings
• Employees undertaking induction, refresher or awareness training
• Learners seeking to develop their communication and empathy skills

Practical benefits
• Develop awareness of sensitive communication when a patient dies
• Understand how to offer condolences and meaningful apologies
• Recognise the importance of keeping families and carers informed
• Improve understanding of the Duty of Candour in practice
• Appreciate when specialist support may be appropriate
• Recognise the importance of support for staff dealing with emotionally challenging situations
• Support more compassionate and considerate interactions with patients and families
• Gain a free CPD-accredited course certificate after successfully completing the online quiz

What learners will be able to do
• Explain key principles and terminology related to communication and empathy when managing patient deaths
• Recognise the importance of compassionate communication with families and carers
• Understand appropriate approaches to offering condolences
• Identify the purpose of a meaningful apology
• Describe how the Duty of Candour applies in practice
• Understand the importance of providing families and carers with relevant information
• Recognise when specialist involvement may be beneficial
• Identify the importance of support for staff members
• Apply appropriate communication and empathy principles within their role

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete an online quiz at the end of the course. Successful completion earns a free CPD-accredited Managing Patient Deaths: Communication and Empathy – Level 2 course certificate, which can be downloaded or printed. Unlimited assessment retakes are available. The course takes approximately 2 hours to complete.