title: Neonatal Critical Care Communication (NC3): training NICU physicians and nurse practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Communicating with families is a core skill for neonatal clinicians, yet formal communication training rarely occurs. This study examined the impact of an intensive interprofessional communication training for neonatology fellows and nurse practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evidence-based, interactive training for common communication challenges in neonatology incorporated didactic sessions, role-plays and reflective exercises. Participants completed surveys before, after, and one month following the training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five neonatology fellows and eight nurse practitioners participated (n=13). Before the training, participants overall felt somewhat prepared (2.6 on 5 point Likert-type scale) to engage in core communication challenges; afterwards, participants overall felt very well prepared (4.5 on Likert-type scale) (P<0.05). One month later, participants reported frequently practicing the taught skills and felt quite willing to engage in difficult conversations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An intensive communication training program increased neonatology clinicians' self-perceived competence to face communication challenges which commonly occur, but for which training is rarely provided.
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Baltimore, MD, USA. rboss1@jhmi.edu
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: Boss
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Urban
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Barnett
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Arnold
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D006801:Humans; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D009359:Neonatology / Q000193:education*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D014481:United States