Hospice Nursing


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Hospice Nursing


NUR320 - Hospice Nursing
Nursing
Leah M. Klein, BSN, MSCI, MSSW, RN, LCSW E-Mail - Vita

Hospice care is rooted in the concept that each person facing a terminal illness should live with dignity, and in comfort from pain, until death. For centuries, religious organizations were instrumental in providing ‘alms houses’ where the dying could be cared for with dignity. The alms houses survived on the generosity of donations. The movement gradually evolved into the private insurance and governmental sectors, with health agencies providing nursing care, social work, and personal care for the terminally ill. These agencies receive government and private insurance reimbursement for the patient’s care.

Nurses now specialize in hospice and palliative care. Pain management has become a specialty. But, more than alleviating pain, the hospice nurse addresses the issues of spirituality, socio-economic, and psychosocial needs of each patient and family.

Many books have been written on the subject of dying and death. The texts for this course are comprehensive and offer important information to nurses in the field. The Internet sites will provide more information of value to nurses dealing with the issues of pain management, economics, psychosocial needs and home care. The E-books can be purchased and read on the Internet for a minimal expense. From time to time there will be updates on Internet sites to meet the student’s needs.

What is the time frame for completion of this course?

You have 18 months to complete this comprehensive course. Since it is self-paced, you may progress through the program faster should you wish to do that. After finishing a module and examination, you may progress to the next module. There are Five (5) Modules and each module is worth 3 credits.

When may I start?

Once registered, you may start anytime after receiving your texts for the module.

What type of exam will I take?

The exams will use multiple choice questions. You will pass the course if you achieve at least 70% correct answers on the exams. Exams are taken online at the Canyon College web site. You will find the answers in your texts.

What assignments will I have?

Assignments will be in the format of case studies for each module. You will be asked a specific question about the case study and you will be asked to write a detailed response. After you are registered for this course, more information on these assignments will be offered.

Where can I purchase textbooks?

I use texts from various disciplines of the hospice nursing. You have freedom of choice. Canyon College has an online bookstore. It is possible to buy very good used copies of texts from Amazon.com stores. Borders and Hastings bookstores are another possibility. You are expected to purchase books on your own.

How can I access the Internet links?

Clicking on the link when you are connected through a server can access articles and resource sites on the Internet. The links are for information only, and neither the instructor nor Canyon College has any monetary connection to these links, nor warrant any products or information offered on these links.

About the Instructor

My name is Leah Meredith Klein. I graduated with a BSN from Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia. I later graduated with a Master of Curriculum and Instruction (in the field of nursing education) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison at Madison, Wisconsin. Later, I returned to UW-Madison to complete a Master of Science of Social Work. I have blended the two fields in case management and rehabilitation during my thirty-year experience in the fields. My experience has included teaching, research, case management, and private practice psychotherapy. I am also an avid kayaker and when I’m not at my computer, I’m on the water.

Current Licenses and Certifications:

Registered Nurse—Texas
Licensed Clinical Social Worker—Wisconsin
Licensed Master Social Worker—Texas
Qualified Mental Health Professional—Rehabilitation Specialist
Disaster Mental Health Specialist: American Red Cross
(See vitae)

How can I communicate with other students?

Canyon College has provided an Online Message Board for posting news, events, and matters of professional interest from/to students.

After registering, you will have access to the virtual classroom: Hospice Nursing. You can also access the Chat Room via the classroom at the Canyon College web site. Prescheduled chats will be scheduled and you will be notified by e-mail so that you can participate in group discussions, Q & A and networking. More information on these communication tools will be given after you register.

Course Objectives:

As a result of completing this course, the nurse will: Module 1

Course Title: Hospice Nursing—An Overview

Texts: Online Bookstore

Reading Assignments: Hospice Nursing Certificate Program

Read the information on the following Internet sites.
www.hospice-america.org
www.hospiceinternational.com
www.hpna.org/
www.nhpco.org
http://www.med.umich.edu/multicultural/ccp/bmhg.htm

Text: Ethnic Variations in Dying, Death and Grief: Diversity in Universality (Death Education, Aging and Health Care Series) by Donald P. Irish and Kathleen F. Lundquist.
ISBN: 1560322780

Module 2

Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators by Patrick M. Lelncioni.
ISBN: 0787976377

Hospice and Palliative Care Handbook: Quality, Compliance, and Reimbursement by T. M. Marrell.
ISBN: 0815135572

Module 3

E-Books Purchased and Read On-line on the Internet (can be found at Amazon.com)

Art is the Heart: A Palette of Possibilities for Hospice Cared. (An article from Pediatric Nursing by Judy. A. Rollins.

Text: The Psychosocial Aspects of Death and Dying by John Canine.
ISBN: 083858098X

Text: The Needs of the Dying: A Guide for Bringing Hope, Comfort, and Love to Life’s Final Chapter by David Kessler.
ISBN: 0060958219

Text: Hospice Care for Children by Ann Armstrong-Dailey and Sarah Zarbock (eds.) Oxford Univ. Press (October 1, 2001).
ISBN: 0195133307

Module 4

Text: Evidence Based Symptom Control in Palliative Care by Arthur G. Lipman.

Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us About the Mysteries of Life and Living (Paperback)
by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, David Kessler.
ISBN: 0684870746 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0684870754 (Paperback)

E-Book Purchased and Read On-line (can be found at Amazon.com)

Delivering Comfort and Dignity: the Role of Hospice in Pain Management. (Passages: Care and Dignity Through Hospice): An article from: Nursing Homes (HTML)

Text: Dying Well: Peach and Possibilities at the End of Life by Ira Byock, M.D.
ISBN: 1573220515

Text: Mosby’s Home Care and Hospice Drug Handbook by T. M. Marrelli (Paperback). Resource only.

Module 5

Text: Scope and Standards of Hospice and Palliative Nursing Practice by Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. (Corporate Author)

Text: Ethical Issued in Death and Dying by Peter F. Weir. Columbia Univ. Press; 2nd edition (October, 1986)
ISBN: 0231062230

Text: Legal Frontiers of Death and Dying (Medical Ethics Series) by Norman L. Cantor.
ISBN: 0253332907

RECOMMENDED

Palliative Care for Infants, Children and Adolescents: A Practical Handbook by Brian S. Carter.

Armfuls of Time: The Psychological Experience of the Child with A Life-Threatening Illness by Barbara M. Soukes.

Bereavement Support Group Program for Children: Reader Manual by Beth Haasl.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic and International Bestseller by Sogyal Rinpoche (Paperback)

A Kid’s Book About Death and Dying by Eric Roles.

Hospital-based Palliative Care Teams: The Hospital-Hospice Interface by J. Hockley and R. J. Dunlop