NUR9203

Palliative care nursing practice

This subject offers students an opportunity to analyse the nature of the specialist role of a palliative care nurse. The first module of the subject examines the philosophical and developmental trends of the hospice and palliative care movement, interdisciplinary team roles and the family, cultural and spiritual aspects of death and dying. The second module of the subject explores the medical, nursing and complementary therapies utilised in the care of patients with terminal illnesses. Specific assessment and symptom management strategies will be explored in the areas of mental status, pain control and other common physical symptoms. Students will be encouraged to seek out current research in symptom management and the development of palliative care through field work, literature review, and computer conferencing discussions.

Back to the 1999 Distance Education Handbook