Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Palliative Care)
Peninsula
campus (on-campus/distance education)
Course code: 1270
Course coordinator: Ms S Lee
In a health care environment that is rapidly changing, a constant factor is
that people who are dying and their loved ones, need control over their lives.
Nurses who have successfully completed this course of study will be equipped
with skills and knowledge to participate within a multidisciplinary team in the
provision of physical, emotional and spiritual support for people with terminal
illness and their families. Through such support, the expert palliative care
nurse is able to foster client decision making in situations often clouded by
misunderstanding and confusion.
The
palliative care nurse must combine a high level of knowledge, interpersonal
skills and an ability to solve complex problems in a variety of environments.
The course aims to:
- facilitate the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, skills and
attitudes inherent in palliative care practice;
- develop the ability to critically and systematically evaluate practice;
- consider the diversity in needs of individuals, clients, their families
and carers in a variety of care environments;
- promote practice which recognises legal and ethical codes of conduct and
the importance of patient advocacy;
- foster the development of strategies to involve individuals, groups and
the community as the unit of palliative care.
On
successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
- conceptualise the philosophy of hospice and palliative care as it
applies to clinical practice;
- demonstrate understanding of political and policy decisions that impact
on the practice of palliative care;
- utilise the decision-making process in assessing planning and evaluating
problems related to clients, caregivers and the community, involved with
terminal illness;
- plan care that reflects their critical analysis of the clients cultural
and spiritual beliefs and of the client's needs in relation to grief and
bereavement;
- utilise a range of options in assisting clients to maintain their
preferred lifestyle;
- analyse a range of palliative care skills related to caring for clients
and their families;
- critically analyse the professional issues that impact on palliative
care;
- efficiently utilise palliative care resources;
- interpret and critically appraise quantitative and qualitative research.
To
be eligible for admission, an applicant would normally:
- have relevant registration (eg Division 1 with the Nurses Board of
Victoria);
- have at least one year of nursing experience; and
- have a degree in nursing or related discipline.
The
Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Palliative Care) consists of eight subjects which
will normally be completed over a period of two years. Successful completion of
the course requires the study of one core research subject, at least four
specialty subjects, and three elective subjects negotiated with course
coordinator.
- NSG6301 Introductory perspectives on palliative care and the hospice
concept
- NSG6302 Principles and practice in hospice and palliative care
- NSG6303 Professional issues in hospice and palliative care
- NSG6305 Interpersonal relations in palliative care
Students may also
select up to three subjects from other graduate subjects offered by the school
or, subject to approval, from other departments of the university.
wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Tue Oct 6 02:34:14 EST 1998