• The approximate running time for each program is sixty minutes in length for a total of six
  hours for the series.       

• Continuing Education Credit will be provided by the American Association of Colleges of
   Nursing. One contact hour will be awarded for each program for a total of six hours.

• The series of six roundtable programs is $595.00, with individual programs at $125.00 each.

I. What is End-of-Life Care? General Principles

1. Definitions
2. Types of people across the age range (i.e. neonates, children, adolescents, young adults, middle age, elderly, old) and special populations (e.g. poor, underserved, homeless, drug abuser, HIV,
3. Settings and transitions among the settings of care
4. Goals of end of life care (e.g. symptom management, quality of life, cultural and spiritual concerns, etc.)
5. Family issues
6. Use of technologies

II. Providing Comfort (Palliative) Care

1. Comfort care as integral to nursing care no matter the setting
2. Assessing common symptoms experienced by patients Subjective measures- (e.g. visual analogue, numeric rating scales, intensity assessment, etc.) Physiological measures-
3. Managing common symptoms- causes and interventions Pain Dyspnea/Cough/Death Rattle, Fatigue, Nausea/Vomiting, Dysphagia Anxiety/Depression, Nutrition/ Anorexia/Cachexia/Bowel Management, Hydration/Thirst/ Dry Mouth/ Urine elimination Neurological disturbances- Delirium/Confusion/Agitation/Restlessness, Puritis/Fever/Sweats Sexuality

III. Individualizing End-of-Life Care: Cultural Considerations

1. Incorporating cultural influences into end of life care and the death event
2. Spiritual beliefs
3. Mourning and Bereavement
4. Family values African American, Native American, Hispanic, Japanese Americans

IV. Decision Making at End-of-Life: Ethical Issues and Communication Skills

1. Advance directives and their implications for end of life care
2. Practical communication skills for breaking bad news and supporting decision making processes - dealing with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team workers, with consideration for psychological, physical, and spiritual needs
3. Ethical considerations in decision making
4. Role of the family in end of life decision making

V. Supporting the Family: Informal care giving, Grief, Loss and Bereavement

1. Practical skills to support the psychological and spiritual needs of the family
2. Understanding resources

VI. End-of-Life Care Issues Within and Across Settings

1. Hospice /Home care
2. Long-term care
3. Outpatient settings
4. Hospital /Acute care
5. Intensive care Unit
6. Palliative Care Units in Hospitals

   ---