Ethics Micro-Credential

Build the skills to communicate ethically, promote health equity, and support patient trust across clinical, community, and research settings.

Ethics is a 7-module, self-paced course that covers our standards in our dealings with colleagues and clients. It includes the use non-judgmental, non-shaming language and behavior, and inclusivity. Covers the application of health literacy as a vital component in advancing social justice and health equity. Also includes advocacy of including health literacy in research, informed consent, and any patient-centered initiatives. This course advances the use of trust, communication, and transparency in building relationships (7 CECHs).

This course is part of IHA’s Health Literacy Specialist Certificate Program, but is available to complete individually to develop specific skill sets. Group discounts available for teams of 5 or more (tiered pricing based on number of participants), please use the team enrollment form for a custom quote.

Why This Course Matters

Ethical communication is central to building trust with patients, community members, and research participants. When patients understand their options, feel respected, and experience non-judgmental care, outcomes improve—and disparities narrow. This course helps you strengthen that foundation of trust by combining ethical principles with practical health literacy strategies applicable across healthcare, public health, and community programs.

What You’ll Be Able to Do

After completing this course, you’ll know how to:

  • Use teach-back ethically to confirm patient understanding
  • Apply shared decision-making practices
  • Communicate respectfully with patients from diverse cultures
  • Deliver difficult news or medical errors ethically and empathetically
  • Find, interpret, and evaluate health literacy research using ethical standards
  • Recognize and address ethical considerations when conducting research with human participants
  • Disclose conflicts of interest effectively
  • Use accurate, transparent communication during the consent process
  • Apply concepts from health equity and social justice
  • Use the RESPECT model for culturally responsive communication
  • Co-create community-based health literacy initiatives with ethical best practices

How to Enroll

Standard Price: $280

Current Online Price: $170 with discount code WBET424

Enroll today for $170 and save $110 (39%) from the regular program price of $280. Use the following code at checkout: WBET424.

Enroll Today! Enroll Your Team!

What’s Inside the Curriculum

Note: This course takes approximately 5 hours to complete.

Learn how to use teach-back to support understanding, apply shared decision making, and communicate effectively with patients from other cultures.

Explore ethical, empathetic approaches to disclosing bad news or medical errors while supporting patient comprehension.

Learn how to find current research, identify best practices, and evaluate studies using ethical standards.

Understand ethical issues in human research, how to promote health literacy in research settings, and how to ethically obtain consent.

Learn why conflict-of-interest disclosure matters, how to disclose conflicts effectively, and how to present accurate health information during consent.

Learn key terms related to equity and social justice, how improving health literacy supports both, and how to apply the RESPECT model when communicating across cultures.

Explore what co-creation is, the ethical and health literacy reasons to use it, and how to co-create community-based health initiatives.

Learning Objectives

  1. Communicate ethically and empathetically to support patient understanding and informed decision-making.
  2. Apply ethical principles when sharing difficult information and conducting health literacy research.
  3. Strengthen health equity and trust through transparent, accurate, and collaborative practices.

Earn Continuing Education Credits and a Digital Badge

5 Continuing Education Credits in the following categories:

  • CHES/MCHES (Category 1 Continuing Education Contact Hours) from NCHEC, Provider #101864
  • CEs for Nurses outside of California
  • California Nurses CEs from The California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP# 11933
  • CPH Recertification Credits from National Board of Public Health Examiners’

Digital Badge

Upon completion, you’ll earn an Education digital badge—see FAQ About Digital Badges for complete info.

Take the next step in strengthening ethical communication, improving understanding, and supporting trust across all patient and research interactions.

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