St Michael's Hospice – Care Courses: End of Life

Effective Medicines Management at End of Life is a comprehensive course designed specifically for Registered Nurses aiming to enhance their proficiency in managing medications for patients nearing the end of life.

Over the span of five engaging sessions, participants will delve into crucial aspects of medications management tailored to alleviate common symptoms experienced by patients in palliative care.

Session 1 – Overview of Medicines Management

• In the inaugural session, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of medicines management principles in the context of end-of-life care. Topics covered will include medication assessment, administration routes, documentation, and ethical considerations.

Session 2 – Pain Management

• This session focuses on the effective management of pain in palliative care settings. Nurses will explore various pharmacological interventions, opioid titration, breakthrough pain management, and strategies for assessing and reassessing pain.

Session 3 – Nausea and Vomiting Management

• Participants will learn strategies to alleviate nausea and vomiting commonly experienced by patients at the end of life. Topics include antiemetic medications, dosage adjustments, anticipatory guidance, and holistic approaches to symptom management.

Session 4 – Management of Secretions

• This session addresses the challenges associated with excessive secretions in palliative care patients. Nurses will examine pharmacological interventions such as anticholinergic medications, and patient positioning to enhance comfort and alleviate distress.

Session 5 – Agitation Management

• The final session focuses on managing pharmacological options in symptom management of agitation and restlessness in patients receiving end-of-life care.

This practice and theory module is a meaningful way to gain knowledge for clinical practice and achieve CPD which can be used as evidence for NMC revalidation purposes.

It presents an opportunity to examine principles and to update on current practice in palliative care with regard to symptom management and to review the evidence base for practice.

Clinical Aspects of Palliative Care - St Michaels Hospice (st-michaels-hospice.org.uk)

This theory workshop will clarify the terminology, professional roles and responsibilities as well as considering the practicality of how to verify death. It will provide a self-assessed competence workbook for completion after attendance.

Here’s an overview of what the training will entail:

• Potential changes to certification processes and Medical Examiner role (as of April 2024)
  
  
• Verification, confirmation and certification explained
  
  
• Legal responsibilities
  
  
• Practical skills
  
  
• When and how to involve the coroner
  
  
• Verifying in the situation of an expected death

This workshop offers the opportunity to gain theoretical and practical knowledge of the use of syringe drivers in the palliative care context – in accordance with West Midlands Strategy and Local Care Trust Policies.

There will be an opportunity to practice skills required to use commonly used syringe drivers.

• Syringe Drivers in Palliative Care – Contexts of Usage
  
  
• Advantages & Disadvantages of Syringe Drivers
  
  
• Setting Up & Maintaining Use of Syringe Drivers (skills practice)
  
  
• Common Drugs Overview
  
  
• Troubleshooting

Who is it for?

Health care staff who are not registered professionals, wishing to further their knowledge on the practical elements of caring for adults during their last days of life.

This will be a face to face 1 day session.

Session Content

We aim to share best practice when looking after adults in their last days of life. This will include:

• Person Centered Care: The benefits of this and practical elements.
  
  
• Comfort Care: Non-pharmacological aspects to enabling comfort for your patients.
  
  
• Recognising Changes in The Last Days of Life: This will include communicating with both patients and their loved ones.
  
  
• Practical Aspects Around Death: We will be thinking about everyone involved, including us as caregivers.