Course overview
This course aims to develop registered nurses' theoretical knowledge for the provision of contemporary evidence informed palliative nursing care in any health setting. Historical perspectives of palliative care, palliative care standards, principles of palliative care nursing, a public health approach to palliative care, palliative care practice in various settings and for culturally diverse communities, evidence-based practice in palliative care nursing and end of life care including symptom assessment and management, care planning for holistic patient-centred end-of-life care; roles in the health care team; compassionate communication with clients, family/significant others including barriers to effective communication; strategies for effective communication; communication in the health care team; legislation and advance care planning; ethical issues in palliative care; grief and bereavement care for clients, families/significant others including spirituality in palliative care; evidence informed strategies for avoiding burnout and building resilience in the nursing workforce including self-care and debriefing.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of the standards and principles underpinning a palliative approach in nursing care and best practice in the provision of end of life care in hospital, community and at home for culturally diverse communities.
- Demonstrate an evidenced-based approach to assessment, decision-making and nursing interventions in the management of clients requiring holistic palliative care, including ongoing symptom management.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills in compassionate communication with clients and their families, and the healthcare team in the provision of palliative care.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Advance Care Planning and associated legislation in the provision of palliative care.
- Critically analyse the nurse's role in responding to ethical issues that may arise in the provision of palliative care.
- Explore contemporary approaches to grief and bereavement in the provision of palliative care to clients and their families.
- Explore strategies for promoting self-care and building resilience in the nursing workforce.