NUTN 634 Motivational Interviewing for Health Care Professionals

Credits: 2
In this two-credit course students will learn the theoretical and empirical tenets of Motivational Interviewing and practice the clinical skills necessary to use this approach in health care settings. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative conversation, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. At the completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to use motivational interviewing strategies to promote health behavior change. Students enrolled at the 600 level will complete an additional assignment requiring an audio recorded work sample lasting 20 minutes. The work sample assignment will be tailored to the students’ area of clinical practice and evaluated using a reliable treatment fidelity instrument.

Graded: A-F
May be taken only once for credit
Also offered as: NUTN 534