Module overview
In this module you will gain the knowledge and skills that are necessary to effectively respond to those with palliative and end of life care needs in order to provide timely and sensitive nursing care. You will develop an in depth knowledge and understanding so that you can debate the challenges in end of life decision making and demonstrate a sound knowledge of symptom management in palliative care.
As a result of studying this module you will understand the challenges of delivering End of Life Care in all contexts including acute care, community and hospice settings. Your learning will focus on end of life care need across the life span, encompassing the care of young adults with life threatening illness or injury, adults with long term conditions and to the care of older people with degenerative conditions and frailty. You will also learn the approaches that are necessary to ensure that all bereaved people are supported with compassionate care.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Critically appraise the evidence base influencing the nursing care of the person receiving palliative care and those at the end of life.
- Insightfully discuss the psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs of people in the last year of life and articulate how the nurse may respond to individual needs and preferences, including knowledge of when and how to refer to specialist services.
- Critically discuss the philosophical, ethical, legal and professional challenges in the planning and delivery of nursing care during palliative and end of life.
- Review contemporary definitions and meanings of palliative and end of life care and how these influence policy for health and social services.
- Examine the knowledge and skills necessary to assess and management of the symptoms commonly experienced during the last year of life.
Syllabus
Evaluate your learning needs and development planning as you transition from a student adult's nurse to being newly qualified
The principles of Palliative and end of life care
Holistic assessment of person-centred goals for support and care
Partnership working in provision of services that support palliative care, end of life care and bereavement needs
Contemporary context of palliative and end of life care (including frailty)
Sociological perspectives of death and dying
Recognition of clinical signs of dying
Epidemiology and causes of death in the UK (including the influence of mulitmorbidity, ageing and frailty)
The transition into palliative care
Communication processes and structures in palliative and end of life care contexts
Ethical, legal and professional considerations
Symptom recognition, impact and management
Assessing and supporting family health and wellbeing
Assessing bereavement needs
Care after death
Therapeutic use of self and management of self
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
A range of approaches may be used that include:
- Lectures
- Group work and discussion
- Online resources and activities
- Guided reading
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 121.5 |
| Teaching | 30 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 30 |
| Seminar | 6 |
| Total study time | 187.5 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
Care of dying adults in the last days of life.
End of life care for infants, children and young people.
Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: A national framework for local action 2015-2020.
Textbooks
Walshe, C., Preston, N., Johnston, B. (2018). Palliative Care Nursing: Principles and evidence for practice. London: Open University Press.
Assessment
Formative
Formative assessment description
Presentation (Case study)Summative
Summative assessment description
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Exam | 100% |
Referral
Referral assessment description
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Exam | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: External