Generic palliative care should be provided to all patients (NCPC 2002).  Consequently, nursing staff should be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure effective end of life care is delivered wherever they are employed (End of Life Strategy 2008).

This course has been given ReQ status. The course has been assessed by the Universities of Surrey and Brighton and recognised for its educational quality.  Follow this link for further details

This five day course covers:

The Philosophy of Palliative Care (day 1)
23rd September 2010

• knowing the WHO definition of palliative care
• recognising how the 5 key principles of palliative care apply in your practice setting
• identifying ethical principles that influence practice in end of life care
• describing the process of dying
• recognising a dying patient
• understanding the theory behind verification of expected death

End of Life Conversations (day 2)
14th October 2010

• recognising that end of life conversations can be difficult & identify why they are difficult for you
• discussing difficult questions & consider how you might respond
• discussing the concept of truth telling in relation to end of life conversations
• having the opportunity to practice the skills you learn

Pain and Symptom Management (day 3)
4th November 2010

• understanding the importance of pain assessment
• explaining how to use the WHO analgesic ladder effectively
• identifying non-drug interventions in managing pain
• discussing the management of common symptoms in end of life care
• recognising ethical dilemmas that arise when managing pain & other symptoms

Loss, Grief & Bereavement (day 4)
18th November 2010

• describing the characteristics of loss & grief
• awareness of current theories of bereavement & how these apply in practice
• discussing cultural differences that influence responses to loss
• explaining possible interventions when dealing with bereaved people

Looking After Yourself (day 5)
2nd December 2010

• identifying which issues are likely to result in stress
• knowing how to recognize stress in yourself & others
• demonstrating the effective use of coping strategies including
  • assertiveness
  • reflection
  • debriefing & clinical supervision

This course is suitable for all health and social care professionals who would like to increase their basic knowledge and understanding of end of life issues in relation to practice.

Each day runs from  9.30am to 4.30pm at St Catherine’s Education Centre.

Each 5 day course costs £350-00 ~ includes handouts, refreshments and lunch ~ however, it is possible to book individual study days at £75-00 per day.