Fundamentals of Palliative Care

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Intensive Mode

In addition to face-to-face teaching time of 20 hours, students should expect to undertake a minimum of 120 hours research, reading, writing and general study to complete this subject successfully.

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For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students must complete all 4 days (outlined below) in order to complete the subject :

Days 1 & 2: Palliative Care: The Essentials
Days 3 & 4:Therapeutic Communication Skills for Palliative Care

Topics covered include:

• Principles, policy and standards of palliative care as they apply to practice
• Introduction to practice issues including patient assessment process
• Principles and practice of therapeutic communication skills
• Working effectively in multidisciplinary teams
• Responding to complex psychosocial issues including depression, anxiety, anger, prognosi

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• Recognise the role of the multidisciplinary team and how the palliative approach to care is effective in improving patient outcomes
• Discuss the concept of holistic care as applied to a person with a life limiting illness
• Apply the principles of palliative care practice to a range of settings
• Consider the core principles of palliative care practice as they apply to the care of someone with a life limiting illness
• Identify and assess symptoms commonly experienced by patients during the terminal phase of an illness
• Reflect on and critique personal communication style
• Understand the key principles involved in undertaking a psychosocial assessment
• Explore the psychosocial impact of a life limiting illness for the patient and their family
• Identify, critique and evaluate current literature related to symptom management

• 40% one 3,000 word assignment
• 40% prepare a learning package, reflective of subject content and appropriate for implementation in own practice setting
• 20% one 1,500 word assignment

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Please refer to website.