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Mastering Communication Skills for International Nurses

Four-week live online course for international nurses—focused on American English pronunciation and clinical vocabulary, patient-centered communication (including SBAR handoffs), practical role-play simulations, and concise documentation with targeted instructor feedback.

$499 — One-time fee (USD) Apply Now 
Nurses practicing a patient handoff in a classroom

Clinical skills setting showing nurses practicing a patient handoff and discussing documentation; the course focuses on patient-centered communication, American English pronunciation, SBAR handoffs, and safe documentation.

About the course

This course equips international nursing professionals with the essential language and communication skills needed to thrive in both clinical and academic settings. Participants will learn to communicate with confidence—developing empathetic, assertive, and professional language to build rapport with patients and collaborate effectively with healthcare teams. They will practice listening strategies that enhance clarity, empathy, and accuracy in real-time patient interactions and healthcare lectures. Through guided reading of healthcare texts, students will strengthen their ability to extract key information and contribute meaningfully to clinical discussions and decision-making.

The course emphasizes impactful writing, enabling participants to produce well-structured, grammatically accurate paragraphs and clinical documentation using professional tone and format. Instruction is delivered as instructor-led Zoom workshops with targeted practice tasks, interactive discussions, and realistic role-play activities. Assignments are workplace-focused—communication practice, clinical documentation exercises, and brief reflections—that prepare you to apply new skills on the job.

Whether in the patient room or the classroom, this course empowers nurses to communicate with clarity, compassion, and confidence. On completion you should be better able to engage in professional clinical conversations, comprehend academic healthcare content, and produce accurate clinical documentation.

  • Apply empathetic and assertive communication techniques—including SOLER, echoing, paraphrasing, and strategic questioning—to build rapport and communicate clearly in clinical dialogues.
  • Develop and apply effective listening strategies for comprehending academic lectures and patient dialogues in clinical contexts.
  • Demonstrate strategic reading skills by analyzing academic texts and extracting key information to support participation in academic discussions.
  • Compose coherent, organized academic text by summarizing and paraphrasing and editing for grammar, clarity, and tone.
  • Produce professional clinical documentation, including nursing notes, focused charting and narrative notes, using appropriate vocabulary, structure, and tone.
Schedule — click a week to see details

Instructor
Karen Peterson portrait
Karen Peterson
Principal Lecturer and course designer; former German Fulbright coordinator. International teacher and avid traveler.
Delivery
Live online (Zoom + Canvas)
Schedule & length
Registration open: register by Oct 19, 2025
Next Session: Oct 20 – Nov 12, 2025
Mondays & Wednesdays • 6:30–8:00pm
4 weeks · 8 sessions · 12 contact hours
Tuition
$499
Level
English CEFR B2+ recommended
Certificate
Certificate of Successful Completion

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