MSc Palliative Care (Person-Centred Practice)

Program Overview

This online postgraduate program in Palliative Care (Person-Centred Practice) from Queen Margaret University equips healthcare professionals with advanced skills and knowledge in person-centered palliative care. Students can choose from specialized modules to tailor their studies to their interests and career aspirations, and the flexible study format allows for completion alongside employment commitments. Graduates pursue diverse careers in specialized practice and leadership roles within palliative care settings.

Program Outline

Palliative Care (Person-Centred Practice) - MSc/PgDip/PgCert

Degree Overview:

This postgraduate program, offered by Queen Margaret University (QMU), focuses on equipping graduates and healthcare professionals with advanced skills and knowledge in palliative care. It adopts a person-centered approach, allowing learners to select modules based on their specific interests and career aspirations.

Outline:

• Program Structure: Available as an online program, the course allows for flexible study alongside employment commitments.
Students can choose to exit with a PgCert (60 credits), PgDip (120 credits), or full MSc (180 credits).
• Module Options:
• Core Modules (PgDip/MSc):
• Theory and Practice of Person-centered Health and Wellbeing (20 credits)
• Leading Person-centred Practice for Health and Wellbeing (20 credits)
• Specialized Modules:
• A Person-Centred Approach to Working with People with Complex Pain and Symptoms (20 credits)
• Shadows and Horizons: Advancing Palliative Care Practice (20 credits)
• Building a Therapeutic Relationship with the Patient and Family in Palliative Care (20 credits)
• Making Judgements and Decisions in Practice (20 credits)
• Advancing Practice in Clinical Assessment (20 credits)
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Health Care Professionals (40 credits)
• Dissertation Module (MSc): 60 credits
• Course Schedule: The program offers September and January start dates.
• Individual Module Descriptions:
• A Person-Centred Approach to Working with People with Complex Pain and Symptoms:
Focuses on pain management strategies, communication techniques, and person-centered approaches to symptom control.
• Shadows and Horizons: Advancing Palliative Care Practice: Explores ethical and legal issues, cultural considerations, and the future of palliative care.
• Building a Therapeutic Relationship with the Patient and Family in Palliative Care: Addresses communication skills, relationship building strategies, and family dynamics in palliative care.
• Theory and Practice of Person-centered Health and Wellbeing: Provides a foundation in person-centered care principles, philosophy, and application.
• Leading Person-centred Practice for Health and Wellbeing: Develops leadership skills for promoting and implementing person-centered care within organizations and teams.
• Making Judgements and Decisions in Practice: Enhances decision-making abilities in complex clinical scenarios.
• Advancing Practice in Clinical Assessment: Equips learners with advanced assessment skills for holistic patient evaluation.
• Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Health Care Professionals: Enables qualified healthcare professionals to independently prescribe medication within their scope of practice.

Assessment:

Assessment methods vary based on the chosen modules. Examples include portfolios, practice proposals, annotated bibliographies, simulations, seminar presentations, and individual assignments. Formative and summative assessments involve self-assessment, peer assessment, and tutor evaluation.

Teaching:

The program utilizes a blended learning approach, incorporating synchronous online sessions and pre-recorded lectures. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, self-reflection, and the application of theoretical knowledge to practice. The teaching team comprises experienced academics and practitioners from both QMU and St. Columba's Hospice Care.

Careers:

Graduates pursue diverse career paths in specialized practice and leadership roles within palliative care. They may find employment in hospices, hospitals, community settings, or research organizations.

Other:

• The program aligns with the WHO Framework of "people-centered healthcare."
• The course draws upon diverse knowledge sources and scholarly inquiry processes.
• QMU emphasizes a supportive and responsive learning environment with extensive online resources.
• The program is delivered in partnership with St. Columba's Hospice Care.