Master of Palliative Care

Program Overview

The Master of Palliative Care is a three-year, part-time program designed for health professionals seeking to enhance their palliative care capabilities. It provides students with advanced clinical performance skills, critical decision-making abilities, and leadership qualities necessary to become palliative care experts. The program includes a mix of theory, evidence-based practice, and clinical placements, covering various healthcare contexts and ethical dimensions. Graduates are prepared for diverse roles in palliative care, including clinical practice, research, education, and leadership.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Palliative Care is a three-year, part-time program designed for health professionals who are looking to extend their palliative care capabilities. The course provides students with the clinical performance capabilities and critical decision-making and leadership skills required to become a palliative care expert. Objectives:

• prepare students for advanced practice as a registered health professional with expert palliative care clinical performance capabilities
• develop critical decision-making and leadership skills.
Program Description: The course is delivered in collaboration with leading contemporary experts in palliative care. Each of the 12 subjects comprises a mix of theory, evidence-based, and clinical practice. Subjects include a range of current healthcare contexts, such as complex communication, social justice, law and ethics, public health, advanced pharmacology, and physical assessment. This allows students to practice safely and proficiently, providing person-centered healthcare and contributing to quality outcomes for those in their care.

Outline:

Course Schedule:

• Year 1: Students take six subjects:
• Year 2: Students take six subjects:
• Year 3: Students take six subjects:
• Year 4: Students take six subjects:
Course Structure: The course consists of 72 credit points made up of 54 credit points of core subjects and 18 credit points of electives. Module Descriptions:

Core Subjects

Communicating and Collaborating for Optimal Person Centred Care: This subject focuses on the importance of communication and collaboration in palliative care. Students will learn how to communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals. They will also learn about the principles of collaborative care and how to work effectively in a team. Delivering Best Palliative Care Any Place Every Time: This subject provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to provide high-quality palliative care in a variety of settings. Students will learn about the principles of palliative care, the different types of palliative care services, and the role of the palliative care team. Immersive Palliative Care Futures: This subject explores the future of palliative care. Students will learn about the latest trends in palliative care research and practice. They will also have the opportunity to develop and implement new palliative care initiatives. Ethical Dimensions of Palliative Care: This subject examines the ethical issues that arise in palliative care. Students will learn about the principles of medical ethics, the role of the patient's autonomy, and the importance of informed consent. Legal Dimensions of Palliative Care: This subject provides students with an overview of the legal aspects of palliative care. Students will learn about the laws that govern palliative care, the rights of patients, and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals.

Electives

Students can choose from a variety of elective subjects, including:

• Advanced Pain and Symptom Management
• Bereavement and Grief Counseling
• Palliative Care in Special Populations
• Spirituality in Palliative Care

Assessment:

Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Essays
• Projects
• Presentations
• Clinical placements
• Exams

Teaching:

The course is taught by a team of experienced palliative care professionals. The faculty includes physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains. The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and clinical placements.

Careers:

Graduates of the Master of Palliative Care are prepared for a variety of roles in palliative care, including:

• Clinical palliative care nurse
• Palliative care social worker
• Palliative care chaplain
• Palliative care researcher
• Palliative care educator