The course will count as eight hours of continuing education. Following is a brief description of each module and the information covered:

Intro to End of Life Care:

Teaches Interdisciplinary collaboration and emphasizes the important role as a member of the health care team. Module explains Palliative and Hospice Care and the Nurse Assistant’s role in the delivery of both.

Gaps in End of Life Care:

Teaches how to recognize and communicate the gaps in healthcare, identifies the multiple care choices and how to provide support for the patient and family.

Goals of Care:

Emphasizes the patient as the center of care, defines the role of the NA in that care plan and teaches approaches to conflicts.

Physical Elements of Care:

Teaches a review of special medical needs of patients, mobility, turning and positioning.

Pain Pearls:

Teaches recognition of pain symptoms and non-pharmaceutical pain management.

Bio-Ethics:

Teaches the necessity of boundaries with patients and families. Explains and helps with the understanding of futility and the importance of proper documentation. Explanation of Advance Health Care Directives and HIPAA included.

Caring Conversations:

Teaches appropriate conversations with the patient, families and health care team.

Last Hours of Living:

Helps identify changes in physical and mental status, teaches how to respect differences in the patient’s religion, lifestyle and rituals.

Grief and Bereavement:

Teaches skills in finding appropriate help for families and caretakers and helps to acknowledge one’s own limits.

Enrollment will be done on an individual basis. Each participant will have to pass a test at the end of each module with a score of at least 80% to move to the next module.

Participants will be presented with a certificate upon completion of the course.