Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Palliative Care
Module Code	NS342
School	School of Nursing and Human Sciences
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Eileen Courtney Semester 2: Eileen Courtney Autumn: Eileen Courtney
Module Teacher	Eileen Courtney
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The purpose of this module it to explore nursing issues related to palliative and terminal care in life-limiting illness. Included are the historical and philosophical origins of palliative care and the principles upon with the palliative approach to care are based. The module will explore the psychological, spiritual and social aspects of caring for patients with life-limiting illness and their families; the physical care of a person approaching the end-of-life including the management of common symptoms; and the ethical issues that can arise in end-of-life care. Theories of grief and bereavement and their application to practice are explored.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the scope of palliative nursing practice and explore its unique characteristics in relation to caring for people with life-limiting and terminal illness.
2. Discuss the complex needs of people requiring palliative care and their carers.
3. Provide appropriate, evidence-based nursing care to in the terminal stage of illness.
4. Provide appropriate, evidence-based supportive care to bereaved carers / families.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	24	No Description
Lecturer-supervised learning (contact)	10	Individual and small group work
Independent learning time	91	Time spent reviewing lecture content, sourcing & reading articles and books.
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Evolution, Philosophy and Principles of Pallaitive Care..
Exploration of the history of palliative care and the principles underlying the palliative approach to care. Cultural cosidrations in death and dying are considered..

Impact of Life-Limiting Illness: Physical, Psychological, Social and Emotional Factors..
Exploration of the impact of a diagnosis of life-limiting or terminal illness on the individual and their family including the array of emotional responses that can occur and the enormity of the adaptive process, and the relationship between psychological distress and physical suffering..

Care of the Actively Dying Patient.
Management of complex symptoms including: pain, dyspnoea, delirium, restlessness and agitation. Ethical issues in end-of-life care..

Loss, Grief and Bereavement..
Theories of loss and grief. Dealing with bereaved relatives.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Brown, E. Warr, B.: 2007, Supporting the Child and the Family in Paediatric Palliative Care., Jessica Kingsley Publishers., London,
Chochinov, H. Breitbart, W.: 2009, Handbook of Psychiatry in Palliative Medicine., 2nd., Oxford University Press., Oxford,
Ferrell, B. Coyle, N.: 2006, Textbook of Palliative Nursing, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Hanks G.: 2010, Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine, 4th., Oxford University Press, Oxford.,
Ingleton, C. Seymour, J. Payne, S.: 2008, Palliative Care Nursing: Principles and Evidence for Practice, 2nd., Open University Press., Maidenhead,
Irish Hospice Foundation: 2008, Palliative Care for All: Integrating Palliative Care into Disease Management Frameworks, Irish Hospice Foundation and Health Services Executive, Dublin,
Irish Hospice Foundation: 2010, Resources and Facilities for End-of-Life Care in Hospitals in Ireland: National Audit Report 1., Irish Hospice Foundation and Health Services Executive, Dublin,
Irish Hospice Foundation: 2010, Dying in Hospital in Ireland: Nurses and Doctors Perspectives. National Audit Report 2., Irish Hospice Foundation and Health Services Executive, Dublin,
Irish Hospice Foundation: 2010, Dying in Hospital in Ireland: Family Perspectives. National Audit Report 3, Irish Hospice Foundation and Health Services Executive, Dublin,
Irish Hospice Foundation: 2010, The Culture of End-of-Life Care in Hospitals in Ireland: National Audit Report 4., Irish Hospice Foundation and Health Services Executive, Dublin,
Irish Hospice Foundation: 2011, Primary Palliative Care in Ireland, Irish Hospice Foundation, Health Services Executive, Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin,
Lawton J.: 2000, The Dying Process: Patients' Experiences of Palliative Care., Routledge, London,
Liben S. Hain R. Goldman A.: 2006, Oxford Textbook of Palliative Care for Children, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Lloyd-Williams M.: 2008, Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care, 2nd., Oxford University Press., Oxford,
Lugton J. McIntyre R.: 2005, Palliative Care: The Nursing Role., 2nd., Elsevier Churchill Livingstone., Edinburgh,
Sandman, L.: 2005, A Good Death: On the Value of Death and Dying., Open University Press, Maidenhead,
Saunders, C.: 2006, Cicely Saunders: Selected Writings 1958-2004, Oxford Universit Press, Oxford,
Twycross R.: 2003, Introducing Palliative Care., 4th., Radcliffe Medical Press., Abingdon,