INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this course is to prepare the learners professionally for advanced and safer care for clients in need of palliative care. The course aims to enable the learners to integrate and perform advanced and safer palliative care, communicate effectively with clients, and assess their health needs. This course is a set of 20 credits in time limit of 3 months (204 hours) which include theory (108 hours), and self-directed learning (96 hours).

OUTCOMES

After taking part in this course, the learners should be able to:

• demonstrate advanced knowledge of palliative care
• apply high levels of decision-making and problem-solving in planning and providing palliative care
• use critical thinking skills in implementing the pharmacological and / or nonpharmacological interventions of pain management
• demonstrate advanced skills in addressing psychosocial and spiritual needs of clients and families.
• adopt high level communication skills as cornerstone in therapeutic relationships.

COURSE DISTRIBUTION IN HOURS

• Total course duration - 3 months = 12 weeks
• Theory - 3 hours per week for 3 days = 9 hours x 12 weeks = 108 hours
• Self-Directed Learning (SDL) - 8 hours per week for 12 weeks = 96 hours
• Total = 108 + 96 = 204 hours

MODULES

Module 1: Overview on Palliative Care

• Definition of terms
• Key facts related to palliative care
• Indications of palliative care
• Main objectives of palliative care

Module 2: Current Evidence Based Practice in Provision of Palliative Care

• General principles of palliative care services
• Categories of palliative care services
• Relief of symptoms
• Palliative care and hospice care
• Individualized, patient-centered care
• Addressing psychosocial and spiritual needs
• Caring for family and caregivers

Module 3: Pain Management

• Types of pain
• Methods of pain assessment and universal pain assessment tool
• Pharmacological interventions of pain management
• Nonpharmacological interventions of pain management Counselling

Module 4: Application of therapeutic communication skills in palliative care

• Techniques to improve listening skills in palliative care
• Techniques to improve talking skills in palliative care 

TARGET

To be admitted in this programme, candidates must be nurses and/ or midwives - post registration.

TEACHING LEARNING METHODS

Interactive lectures conducted online (virtual learning environment) and on-site, problemsolving, and case-based approaches to learning. Course materials include lecture notes, PowerPoint presentation slides, and other relevant materials applicable to the course/ module. 

EVALUATION

The course will be assessed using the table below: 

• Formative Assessment 30%
• Summative Assessment 60%
• Attendance 10%

AWARDS

Upon completion of the course, successful learners will be awarded with a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificate, provided they have passed their formative assessment at 50% and summative assessments at 50%, with 90% attendance in all the course activities.