The Art of Tough Conversations: Communicating With Patients and Families During Serious Illness
Course Overview
Nurses routinely encounter difficult conversations with patients and families involving serious illness, prognosis, goals of care, and emotionally charged decisions. This podcast explores communication as a clinical competency and examines practical strategies for responding with honesty, empathy, active listening, and patient-centered communication. Participants will learn approaches for navigating uncertainty, managing challenging reactions, engaging the interprofessional team, and strengthening confidence in difficult conversations.
Listen, Learn, and Earn CE Hours with this podcast course. Available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Identify communication strategies that support effective difficult conversations with patients and families.
- Apply techniques such as active listening, clarification, empathy, and closed-loop communication during emotionally challenging interactions.
- Recognize when additional members of the interprofessional healthcare team should be involved to support patient-centered communication and decision-making.
About the Author/Presenter
Mackenzie Butler, DNP, MSN, RN-BC is the Head of Nursing Products at Colibri Group, where she leads innovative solutions to advance nursing education and professional development. She holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to her leadership role, Mackenzie serves as adjunct faculty at the College of Saint Benedict, sharing her expertise with future healthcare professionals. Her professional interests include healthcare simulation and leveraging technology to enhance learning outcomes.
Dr. Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, is dean of the University of Rochester School of Nursing, vice president of the University of Rochester Medical Center, and professor of nursing and geriatric medicine. A nationally recognized nurse scientist, she is an expert in palliative care, complex chronic illness, and cardiovascular health, with a particular focus on advanced heart failure and the experiences of patients and family caregivers.
Dr. Kitko’s research — funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association — has advanced evidence-based approaches to communication, shared decision-making, and compassionate care during serious illness. Her work centers on helping clinicians navigate difficult conversations with patients and families facing uncertainty, emotional distress, and complex care decisions. A fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and the American Heart Association, she currently chairs the AHA’s Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, contributing to national leadership in cardiovascular and palliative care.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Nursing
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
