This course is free for everyone to access. If you are not an RCN member, you will need to sign up with a free account and return to this page. RCN members and free account users can access the course by clicking the button below and logging in using their existing details.

As a nurse, you will often find yourself caring for vulnerable patients, regardless of your area of speciality.  Patients can be fearful, agitated, confused or withdrawn. They may or may not have a mental health diagnosis, learning disability, dementia or autism. 

Emotionally vulnerable patients have reported mixed experiences of care. Some feel misunderstood, traumatised, alienated and sometimes stigmatised. While others report that empathetic and respectful treatment and being listened to have positively affected them.

Many patients have experienced both—sometimes in the same treatment episode— and so are aware of the difference. 

While intended as a course for all nurses, those who are most likely to find the course useful are those working in emergency medicine, oncology, haemodialysis, acute general medicine, primary care and prison care. 

This course aims to help nurses offer empathetic and respectful care to vulnerable patients. In most cases, these skills will come naturally, but they also can be taught and refined in order to build confidence in your practice and delivery of care.  

We believe that the topics covered are the cornerstones of effective nursing care and will be useful for all patients encounters.  

The themes covered include:  

• active listening 
• understanding stress and vulnerability 
• engaging people in their distress 
• person centred communication 
• managing our own emotions 
• building therapeutic relationships

• Critically explore how an emotionally vulnerable patient may present themselves.  
• Apply a ‘stress vulnerability model’ approach to encourage empathy and understanding to emotionally vulnerable patients.  
• Explore techniques and approaches that support emotionally vulnerable patients to feel safe while under your care.  
• Find extra resources and reading to support further reflection, knowledge and skills. 
  

The course will be self-directed and reflective, sharing patient journeys and interactions in services. You will be guided through the stages of:  

• Preparing to care for emotionally vulnerable people.
• Understanding emotionally vulnerable people’s thoughts and views.  
• Engaging with emotionally vulnerable people.
• Working with emotionally vulnerable people.  
• Reflecting and building your skills with emotionally vulnerable people.
  

As an RCN user, you’ll receive a certificate to show that you have successfully completed the learning. 

If you have already signed up for the course, you can access it on the RCN Professional Services page (and bookmark this page for future use).