Palliative Care 1 Approach to Care and Communication Skills
This 6-week online course is the foundational course in the certificate and focuses on the role of the nurse practitioner in applying a palliative approach to care within any practice setting. Participants will be introduced to the core competencies for palliative care that can be applied across the continuum from diagnosis to end of life. They will explore resources, prognostication tools and life-limiting illness trajectories that aid in communication, decision making and planning of care. Participants will also have an opportunity to apply communication tools to common difficult conversations such as advance care planning and goals of care. These tools and skills form the basis of NP practice required to address the multifaceted needs of clients with progressive disease and will support complex symptom and end of life care management that is comprehensively addressed in courses 2 & 3.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course participants will be able to:
- Articulate the Nurse Practitioner role in working with adult clients and their families living with a progressive and life-limiting illness.
- Develop a plan to incorporate a palliative approach to care and palliative care core competencies into their routine NP practice.
- Utilize early identification & prognostication tools as part of a comprehensive assessment to guide decision making and care planning at key transition points in the trajectory of a serious illness.
- Select and utilize specific communication tools to facilitate communication about the illness including breaking bad news, Advance Care Planning and Goals of Care conversations.
- Demonstrate self-awareness and identify strategies for self-care in caring for the terminally-ill.
- Identify appropriate resources and referrals for clients and their families living with progressive and life-limiting illness.
Certificate Criteria
This is the first of three online courses as part of the Certificate in Palliative Care for Nurse Practitioners: Core Competencies for NP Practice. Participants successfully completing all three courses within a two-year period will receive the continuing education certificate.
Audience
The certificate is for Nurse Practitioners (and/or Nurse Practitioner Program students) and those in Advanced Practice and/or CNS roles who, as part of their routine practice, may be responsible for the care of adult clients with progressive and life-limiting illnesses. The practice setting may include acute care, long-term care, community, primary care or private practice.
Course participants must hold current registration as a Nurse Practitioner in their province (or as a Registered Nurse enrolled in a Nurse Practitioner program, or working in an Advanced Practice Role)
Course Outline
This course is a 6-week course delivered through the University of Toronto’s learning management system (Quercus). It is primarily self-paced; however participants are required to engage in discussions and submit activities/assignments within identified timelines (weekly). It is estimated that up to 8 hours of study per week is required for successful completion. The course will utilize a series of case scenarios to enhance learning and application.
In each of the 6 weeks, participants are expected to:
For this course, the learning activities / assignments include:
Pre-course access will be available to allow for testing of computers and general navigation.
| Time | Description | Evaluative Components |
|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Introduction to Palliative Care Concepts & the NP Role
|
Discussion Board Post |
|
Week 2 |
Early Identification & Illness Trajectory
|
Discussion Board Post |
|
Week 3 |
Communication & Therapeutic Relationship Building
|
Case Study Assignment |
|
Week 4 & 5 |
Key Conversations in Progressive Illness and Palliative Care (2 Weeks)
|
Discussion Board Post |
|
Week 6 |
NP Practice Environment Enablers
|
LIVE Conversation Tool Application Session |
Course content will remain open after faculty have posted final grades for your review.
Faculty
Julia Johnston, RN-EC, BScN, MN, NP-Adult, CHPCN(C)
Nurse Practitioner Palliative Care, Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network
Karen Lock, RN(EC), NP-Adult, NP-C, BScN, MN, CON(C), CHPCN(C)
Nurse Practitioner, Supportive Care, Medicine Program & The Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care, North York General Hospital
Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
Palliative Care 2: Complex Symptom Management
This 6-week online course focuses on complex symptom management for clients with progressive disease. Participants will review health assessment including appropriate use of screening and diagnostics tools to gather information […]
Palliative Care 3: End-of-Life Care Management
This 6-week online course focuses on end-of-life care for clients with progressive disease. Participants will explore the changes that occur with conversations and symptom assessment & management as clients near the […]
Registration Information
- Early Bird price (ends October 21, 2024)
- $735 + HST
- Regular price (starts October 22, 2024)
- $810 + HST
- U of T Nursing Alumni save 15%*
- $690 + HST
- U of T Nursing Adjunct and Status Faculty save 15%**
- $690 + HST
- NPAO Member save 15%***
- $690 + HST
Site Groups
A group discount rate of 15% is available for site groups of three or more people. To book please contact pd.nursing@utoronto.ca.
Please Note
- Refund Policy – To withdraw from a course, send a written request to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca by September 21, 2024. No refunds will be given after this date. All refunds are subject to an administrative fee of $100 + tax. Alternatively, a colleague may attend in your place. Please send your substitution request at least 3 days prior to the course to pd.nursing@utoronto.ca.
- Registration deadline: October 21, 2024.
- *U of T Nursing Alumni discount is available to BScN, MN, PMNP Diploma, MScN or PhD graduates of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
- **U of T Nursing Faculty discount is available to individuals with a faculty position, adjunct or status appointment, or are a Clinical Instructor (current academic year only) at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
- ***NPAO (Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario) members may register at the NPAO rate which is 15% off the regular rate. Please note, your name will be used to confirm that you are a member of the NPAO.
- Applicable taxes (13% HST) will be added to the registration fees.
- Course Cancellation Policy – The Centre for Professional Development reserves the right to cancel courses due to circumstances. The decision to cancel a course is normally made 15 days prior to the course. If you are enrolled in a course which is subsequently cancelled, you may apply your fee to another course, or receive a full refund. The Centre is not responsible for any travel or other expenses incurred by you.
Financial Assistance
OSAP for Micro-credentials
The Ontario Student Assistance Program now offers funding for micro-credentials (short training programs offered by post-secondary institutions), including a number of courses offered by the Centre for Professional Development. This funding initiative is part of Ontario’s micro-credentials strategy, helping learners access more opportunities to train or upskill for in-demand jobs through loans and grants.
OSAP for Micro-credentials is available for eligible students taking a ministry-approved micro-credential that is less than 12 weeks.
To be eligible for OSAP for Micro-credentials, a student must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a protected person; and, be a resident of Ontario.
Ontario residency requirements for the purposes of OSAP for Micro-credentials are consistent with Full-Time OSAP residency criteria.
Students may be ineligible for the following reasons:
- they do not meet the Ontario residency requirement
- their family income threshold is above the income threshold to qualify for funding (i.e., $80,000 for a family of one person; $100,000 for a family of two or more people)
- they are restricted from OSAP for Micro-credentials (e.g., have defaulted on a previous OSAP loan, they have a failed credit check on file, they have a bursary overpayment)
Step 1: Confirm that the University of Toronto micro-credential course you want to take is OSAP-approved.
Step 2: Log in to your OSAP account. If this is your first time applying, you will need to create an OSAP account.
Step 3: From the options listed, select and complete the OSAP for Micro-credentials Application. You can only receive OSAP for Micro-credentials funding for one course at a time.
Step 4: Once you have completed your application, you will receive communication through your OSAP account, which will guide you in completing a supplementary form on the Service Portal.
The form requires the following information:
- Full Name
- Date of Birth
- Name of Program
- Program Study Period – start and end dates
This must be completed by the end of the study period.
Step 5: Your division will confirm the information that you have submitted is correct and confirm your registration status.
Step 6: The University Registrar’s Office will update the OSAP for Micro-credentials Application with the information provided by both you and your division and process your confirmation of enrolment.
Step 7: If you have not already done so, enrol and pay for the micro-credential course you would like to take.
Note: you must be registered in an OSAP approved micro-credential program before OSAP funding will be issued/released.