Essentials of Palliative Care from Coursera

This course starts you on your journey of integrating primary palliative care into your daily lives. You will learn what palliative care is, how to communicate with patients, show empathy, and practice difficult conversations. You will learn how to screen for distress and provide psychosocial support. You will learn about goals of care and advance care planning and how to improve your success with having these conversations with patients. Finally, you will explore important cultural considerations and improve your cultural competency on the topics covered.

For clinicians, the goal of this course is to help you incorporate primary palliative care into your daily practice or help you know when to seek a specialist. We will help you improve your patient’s quality of life and provide self-care tips to help you maintain your own. For patients and caregivers, this course will empower you to talk to your provider and get palliative care, if necessary.

Stanford Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Visit the FAQs below for important information regarding 1) Date of original release and Termination or expiration date; 2) Accreditation and Credit Designation statements; 3) Disclosure of financial relationships for every person in control of activity content.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction and Overview

Welcome! Palliative Care Always is about optimizing quality of life at any stage of disease. This course, Essentials of Palliative Care, is rooted in the belief that incorporating the principles of palliative care into clinical practice can improve the quality of life for our patients and their support systems (including clinicians!). A team of Stanford faculty and staff designed this course to educate you about palliative care. Together, you will learn how it intersects with treating serious illness, and how palliative care skills can help improve quality of life for patients, families and providers. Our hope is that you will feel increasingly equipped to support the diverse needs of patients with serious illness.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Appropriate for general and medical students

Taught by an institution and instructors recognized for their exceptional work in the field of primary palliative care

Core team member and patient communication skills can be implemented across work environments, promoting overall well-being

Provides the ability to identify early signs of burnout in healthcare providers

Emphasizes using communication to build trust and rapport with patients and families, although the approach is highly dependent on the individual

Reviews summary

Essentials for compassionate palliative care

According to learners, this course offers an excellent, practical foundation in palliative care, highly valued for its impactful communication modules. Students particularly praised strategies for difficult conversations and the emphasis on empathy. The crucial self-care module also received high marks. While some experienced clinicians found elements somewhat basic, the course's clear content on topics like goals of care and psychosocial support made it immediately applicable for both healthcare providers and caregivers.

Includes essential guidance on managing burnout for healthcare providers.

"The self-care section was also a thoughtful addition for healthcare providers. Highly recommend!"

"The self-care module was also much needed. Highly recommend for any healthcare professional."

"The self-care emphasis is a crucial reminder. I found the segment on identifying and managing burnout very relevant."

Provides a clear and accessible understanding of core palliative care principles.

"Excellent course! The content was very clear and comprehensive, especially the sections on goals of care and psychosocial distress."

"This course completely reframed my understanding of palliative care, moving beyond just end-of-life."

"The course successfully demystified palliative care. The explanations were clear, and the real-world examples helped illustrate the concepts."

"It covers the essentials thoroughly. The communication section was definitely the highlight."

Beneficial for both healthcare professionals and family caregivers.

"This course is a lifeline for caregivers. It equipped me with the language and confidence to discuss my mother's care with her medical team."

"A profound and essential course for anyone in healthcare or caring for a loved one."

"A must-take for interdisciplinary teams. I found this course incredibly helpful in my role as a social worker."

Offers concrete, applicable strategies for crucial conversations.

"The module on 'Communicating with Patients' was particularly impactful, offering concrete strategies for difficult conversations that I've already started implementing..."

"The communication strategies presented are top-notch and immediately applicable. I valued the discussions around 'Goals of Care'."

"I now feel much better equipped for future patient interactions after gaining invaluable perspective on patient-centered care and empathy."

May be introductory for those with significant prior experience.

"As an experienced clinician, some foundational elements felt familiar, but the specific frameworks for difficult conversations were valuable."

"While the core concepts are good, I found some of the content slightly repetitive... a bit basic for those with prior experience."

"I enrolled hoping for more detailed clinical application beyond general communication... It serves as a good overview for those new to the field."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Essentials of Palliative Care with these activities:

Complete practice questions on palliative care topics

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Test your understanding of palliative care concepts and identify areas where you need further clarification.

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Identify a website or platform that offers practice questions on palliative care topics.
Complete the practice questions and review your answers.
Identify areas where you need further clarification.
Seek out additional resources or ask for guidance from a colleague or mentor.

Watch a video tutorial on communicating with patients about difficult topics

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Learn effective communication techniques to enhance your ability to have open and compassionate conversations with patients.

Browse courses on Communication Skills

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Identify a video tutorial on communicating with patients about difficult topics.
Watch the video tutorial and take notes on key points.
Reflect on the communication techniques presented in the tutorial.
Practice using these techniques in your daily interactions with patients.
Seek feedback from colleagues or a mentor to improve your communication skills.

Practice difficult conversations

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Simulate difficult conversations with patients to improve communication skills.

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Identify and role-play challenging scenarios.
Practice empathy and active listening.
Seek feedback and refine communication techniques.

Six other activities

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Discuss a challenging case with a colleague

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Engage in case discussions to apply your knowledge of palliative care in realistic scenarios.

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Identify a challenging case that you have encountered in your practice.
Contact a colleague who is also a healthcare professional.
Discuss the case with your colleague online or in a face-to-face meeting.
Share your perspectives and insights.
Reflect on the discussion and how it can inform your future practice.

Write a blog post on a palliative care topic

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Enhance your understanding of palliative care concepts by explaining them clearly to others.

Browse courses on Palliative Care

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Choose a specific topic in palliative care that you are interested in.
Research the topic thoroughly using reliable sources.
Organize your thoughts and information into a clear and logical structure.
Write the blog post, ensuring it is well-written and easy to understand.
Publish the blog post on a platform where your target audience is likely to engage with it.

Participate in a palliative care case study competition

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Apply your knowledge and skills in a competitive setting to enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

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Research upcoming palliative care case study competitions.
Identify a topic or case study that aligns with your interests and expertise.
Form a team or work independently.
Develop a comprehensive case study analysis and presentation.
Present your findings to a panel of judges.

Read 'The Palliative Approach: A Clinical Guide' by Richard Harding

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Familiarize yourself with the principles and practices of palliative care.

View Irwin and Rippe's Intensive Care Medicine on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of the book.
Read the book at a leisurely pace, taking notes as needed.
Use the book's index and table of contents to find specific information relevant to your practice.

Contribute to a palliative care-related open-source project

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Enhance your knowledge and skills by contributing to the advancement of palliative care through open-source initiatives.

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Explore palliative care-related open-source projects on platforms like GitHub.
Identify a project that aligns with your interests and skills.
Contact the project maintainers to express your interest in contributing.
Review the project documentation and contribution guidelines.
Make contributions to the project, such as code improvements, bug fixes, or documentation updates.

Volunteer with a hospice or palliative care organization

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Gain practical experience in providing end-of-life care and support to patients and their families.

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Research hospice and palliative care organizations in your area.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Complete the necessary training and orientation programs.
Engage in volunteer activities such as providing companionship, assisting with daily tasks, or offering bereavement support.
Reflect on your volunteer experiences and how they have enhanced your understanding of palliative care.

Career center

Learners who complete Essentials of Palliative Care will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Palliative Care Physician

A Palliative Care Physician helps patients and families cope with the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of serious illness. This course would be very helpful for a Palliative Care Physician because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for physicians who work with patients with serious illnesses.

See salaries and explore the career path for Palliative Care Physician

Hospice Nurse

A Hospice Nurse provides care and support to patients and families during the end of life. This course would be very helpful for a Hospice Nurse because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for nurses who work with patients and families during the end of life.

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Social Worker

A Social Worker provides emotional support and practical assistance to patients and families who are coping with serious illness. This course would be very helpful for a Social Worker because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for social workers who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Chaplain

A Chaplain provides spiritual support and guidance to patients and families who are coping with serious illness. This course would be very helpful for a Chaplain because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for chaplains who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Bereavement Counselor

A Bereavement Counselor provides support and guidance to individuals who are grieving the loss of a loved one. This course would be very helpful for a Bereavement Counselor because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for bereavement counselors who work with individuals who are grieving.

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Patient Navigator

A Patient Navigator helps patients and families navigate the healthcare system and access the resources they need. This course would be very helpful for a Patient Navigator because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for patient navigators who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Medical Assistant

A Medical Assistant provides administrative and clinical support to healthcare professionals. This course would be very helpful for a Medical Assistant because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for medical assistants who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Nurse Practitioner

A Nurse Practitioner provides primary care to patients and families. This course would be very helpful for a Nurse Practitioner because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for nurse practitioners who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Registered Nurse

A Registered Nurse provides care and support to patients and families in a variety of settings. This course would be very helpful for a Registered Nurse because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for registered nurses who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Licensed Practical Nurse

A Licensed Practical Nurse provides basic care and support to patients and families under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. This course would be very helpful for a Licensed Practical Nurse because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for licensed practical nurses who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Certified Nursing Assistant

A Certified Nursing Assistant provides basic care and support to patients and families under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. This course may be helpful for a Certified Nursing Assistant because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for certified nursing assistants who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Home Health Aide

A Home Health Aide provides personal care and support to patients and families in their homes. This course may be helpful for a Home Health Aide because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for home health aides who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Personal Care Aide

A Personal Care Aide provides personal care and support to patients and families in their homes or in assisted living facilities. This course may be helpful for a Personal Care Aide because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for personal care aides who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Massage Therapist

A Massage Therapist provides massage therapy to patients and families to relieve pain and stress. This course may be helpful for a Massage Therapist because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for massage therapists who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Yoga Instructor

A Yoga Instructor teaches yoga to patients and families to improve their physical and mental health. This course may be helpful for a Yoga Instructor because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for yoga instructors who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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