Overview

The topic aims to increase awareness of the psychosocial effects of terminal illness on clients and their families and on the student as a professional care-giver, and to practice the skill of sensitive communication in the palliative care context. Modules include: The Meaning and Milieu of Death; Communication; Loss, Grief … For more content click the Read More button below.

Topic availabilities

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Tuition pattern

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Aims

This topic aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop their communication skills when interacting with patients diagnosed with a life limiting illness and their families and /or caregivers. This will be achieved through:

  • Exploration of the common psychological, social, cultural and spiritual/existential impacts of death and dying on the patient, their family, significant others and carers
  • The introduction of the underlying philosophies and principles of current models of communication
  • The practical application of communication theories and models and implementation of specifically identified skills in simulated clinical scenarios
  • Review of the spiritual / existential issues encountered in the dying process and ways of facilitating care of the human spirit
  • Critical reflection on own communication skills to identify focus on learning

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Identify and describe the common psychological, social, cultural and spiritual / existential issues in death and dying and their impacts on patient, family and carers
2.
Apply a model of communication skills to simulated clinical situations and identify their own specific strengths and learning needs in communication skills
3.
Critically hone their communication skills via role play of mock clinical encounters and critiquing their own and others' skills via scenario case-studies, video-taping of mock clinical encounters
4.
Identify and describe ways of facilitating care of the human spirit for those living with a life-threatening condition and dying

Assessments

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Requisites information

Pre-requisites:

Assumed knowledge

Familiarity in the use of literature and accessing relevant data bases including OVID Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and any others appropriate to the area of study.