Introduction to Palliative Care

Catalog description

This course will provide an introduction to palliative care by addressing the personal, professional, societal, cultural, spiritual, and ethical/legal issues related to the care of patients and families experiencing progressive, life limiting illness and death. Theoretical perspectives related to palliative care will be explored with a focus on evidenced-based interventions to promote quality of life and quality of dying for patients and families across the illness/dying trajectory. Emphasis will be placed on comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, planning, and implementation of pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and complementary therapies to relieve pain and suffering, as well as evaluating the outcomes of such care. Theoretical bases related to the assessment and management of pain and suffering are considered, with an emphasis on comprehensive care of patients in pain with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other end-stage organs diseases (hepatic, renal, neurologic, cardiac, and pulmonary). Barriers to effective palliative care, specifically pain management, and related health care policy development, are discussed, including strategies to overcome barriers and health care discrepancies. Quality palliative care is considered within the context of the palliative care team, in acute, community, hospice and home care settings. The role of advanced practice nurses in advocating for and promoting patients’ rights for quality care, specifically the relief of pain and suffering, is explored. Based on the knowledge of theory and evidence-based interventions, students will alleviate pain and suffering and improve the quality of life and dying for culturally diverse patients and families across health care settings.