Breaking Bad News, Communicating Serious News Clearly

Author(s): Sheryl Hollyday, Erin Hallinan

Contact Hours 1.00

CERP A 1.00

Expires Nov 15, 2026

Topics: Communication

Role: Staff

Fees
Member: Free
NonMember: $10.00

Added to Collection

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Discussing serious news with a patient is uncomfortable and most often very challenging. Nurses have had very little training in this particular skill. Delivery of bad news should be done in an empathetic way that allows discussion and facilitates honest answers to potentially tough questions. This session is for novice nurses through experts and utilizes lecture, video, interactive case studies to assist nurses and APRN's in the art of communication and delivery of bad news.

Objectives

  • Describe strategies within the workplace to enhance communication skills when delivering bad/serious news.
  • Discuss the APRN's/nurses role in facilitating difficult conversations with patients, family members and the healthcare team.
  • Assess the patient and/or family member(s) understanding of serious illness diagnosis and trajectory.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for 1.00 contact hours.

Disclosure

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion. 

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.