In the NAC Examination, physician examiners assess up to 7 competencies per station, and one of them is communication skills: the MCC describes a “patient-centered approach” that “establishes trust and respect and shows sensitivity to the patient’s needs”. This post breaks down five communication errors with plug-and-play scripts.
Mistake 1: Info-Dumping Before Listening
Launching into differentials or tests without an opener misses rapport and the full history.
Script Fix: “Before we talk options, tell me – what brought you in today? How’s this affecting your daily life?” (Pause 30 seconds). Builds trust.
Mistake 2: Directive Over Empathetic Tone
Advice like “Take this pill” sounds commanding vs patient-centered Canadian style.
Script Fix: “That sounds really tough. Many patients feel this way – here’s what usually helps: [plan]. Does that make sense for you?” Softens delivery and checks the patient’s understanding.
Mistake 3: Skipping Consent and Shared Decisions
Jumping to management without asking “Are you comfortable?” leaves the patient out of the decision.
Script Fix: “To figure this out, I’d like to [exam/investigation]. Are you okay with that? Any concerns?” Explicit permission + patient agency.
Mistake 4: Weak Closures and Follow-Up
Abrupt endings like “Any questions?” without a summary skip what the MCC’s communication skills competency describes: it “encourages questions and uses repetition and summarizing to confirm and/or reinforce understanding”.
Script Fix: “So today we covered [summary]. Next steps: [plan]. Here’s my card – call if anything changes. What questions do you have?” Clean handoff, shows organization.
Mistake 5: Filler Words and Rushed Pacing
“Um,” “basically,” or talking through turns signals nerves.
Script Fix: Practice silence: Question → pause → response. Time scripts to 7:30 max.
Master these scripts via mccQbank NAC practice, and communication becomes your NAC strength.
