Palliative Care Pain and Symptom Management

Module delivery dates

Lancaster - 30 April and 06 June 2014; 09:30 - 16:00 hours each day

You will need to attend one of the induction days prior to commencing your first module; these are running in Lancaster on 18 or 19 September 2013 (you only need to attend one date), 08 January 2014 and 26 March 2014 and in Carlisle on 20 September 2013, 07 January 2014 and 25 March 2014. If you have studied at the University of Cumbria in the past two years the requirement to attend the induction day may be waived.

Closing date for applications

The closing date for applications is 5 working days prior to the module start date or, if this is your first module, 5 working days prior to the induction date.

Why study with us?

The aim of this module is to advance knowledge and understanding of the concepts and principles underpinning pain and symptom management in palliative and end of life care practice. Inclusive to this module is the appreciation of the Total Pain Concept developed by Dame Cicely Saunders the founder of the hospice movement. Hence inclusion of physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural aspects of symptom control in complex patient problems with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses.

Finance

If you are employed within NHS North West and this module is to be funded by your employing Trust, please contact your Line Manager and CPD Lead for advice relating to funding and the funding application process.

What can this course lead to? Studying this module will enhance your confidence for caring for those with palliative care needs and enhance your repertoire of caring skills. If your intention is to work in the field of palliative care this module will enhance your ability to achieve this goal. Having completed this module you may wish to bring the credits into the PgC Practice Development: Palliative Care. Please discuss this opportunity with the module leader before completion of this module. Resources and facilities We are amongst the UK’s leading health and wellbeing faculties and are proud of the high level of support we are able to offer to our students. We provide a wide range of high-quality courses supported by expert academic and clinical practice staff. If you join us you will enjoy great facilities and learn alongside caring, committed and experienced professionals. Our employment record is excellent. Entry requirements

Evidence of prior successful study at underpinning level.

More information about levels and credits.

Credit and UCAS requirements Credit: 20 credits Selection criteria

You must be a registered nurse or allied health professional to be eligible to study this module.

You should also be able to demonstrate the ability to study at this level and commit to attempting the assessment. When taken as part of a specific named award, the module content and assessment must be focussed towards the subject of that award.

Participation in the formative components of the module are required to pass the module. 

Modules

HPHG7026 Pain and Symptom Management in Palliative Care Practice (20 credits at level 7)

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion, you will be able to:

• Critically reflect on the scope and limitations of your knowledge and skills and examine how your learning has been applied to complex palliative and end of life care.
• Develop and apply knowledge and critical understanding on the clinical manifestations of pain, pain behaviours and the social, psychological and cultural aspects of pain.
• Critically evaluate and adapt as appropriate to the context approaches to distressing symptom management in palliative care practice.
• Critically analyse and evaluate different approaches to assessment in palliative care practice and critically analyse how these approaches can be transferred to solve complex problems in a range of palliative care situations.
• Critically apply a robust user / carer focus in pain and symptom management in palliative care practice.

Indicative core bibliography

Sarafino, E (2008) Health Psychology. Biopsychosocial Interactions (6e) Chichester, John Wiley & Sons

Bruera, E & Higginson, I (2009) Textbook of Palliative Care Medicine Oxford, Oxford University Press

Emanuel, L & Librach, L (2011) Palliative Care. Core Skills and Clinical Competencies (2ed) St. Louis, Elsevier Saunders

Fine, P (2008) The Diagnosis and Treatment of Breakthrough Pain Oxford, Oxford University Press

Puchalski, C & Ferrell, B (2010) Making Health Care Whole. Integrating Spirituality into Patient Care West Conshohocken PA, Templeton Press

www.ncpc.org.uk The National Council for Palliative Care

www.partnersagainstpain.com

Assessment

Summative: 3,000 word written assignment

Formative: Oral Assessment/presentation (1,500 word equivalent)

Course summary Indicative module content: Definitions and classifications of pain, Pain theories, basic pharmacology, Pain assessment tools and management approaches, the Total Pain concept, Biopsychosocial assessment and management including distressing symptom management with consideration of cancer and non cancer diagnoses.