Handbook

Students will examine the principles, policy and standards of palliative care and the care needs of people who have a life-limiting condition, their families and carers, across the lifespan. Evidence-informed frameworks for the provision of person-centred care, to alleviate physical and emotional pain and symptoms throughout a life-challenging illness or condition, will be analysed. Students will strengthen their knowledge of collaborative and culturally sensitive palliative care for First Nations peoples and people from other culturally diverse groups. Sensitive and complex communication strategies underpinning nursing practice will be further developed in this subject. Ethical and legal issues involving quality end-of-life care, and the societal expectations of end-of-life care, will be critically examined. 

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Principles, policy and standards of palliative care;
• Models of care;
• Pain and symptom assessment and management;
• Psychosocial factors affecting care;
• Communication skills to support decision making and empowerment of individuals and carers;
• Palliative and end of life care for First Nations Peoples and other culturally diverse groups; and
• Ethical and legal considerations in palliative and end of life care.