Palliative Care Always Capstone Course

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/palliative-care-always-capstone-course

Introduction

### Course Review: Palliative Care Always Capstone Course #### Overview The **Palliative Care Always Capstone Course** on Coursera is a compelling culmination of a comprehensive specialization dedicated to enhancing understanding and application of palliative care principles. Designed not only to test your knowledge but also to empower you to advocate for palliative care in your community, this course encourages creativity and engagement, bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application. Throughout the course, you will delve into various facets of palliative care, focusing on community awareness, self-care, communication strategies, and psychosocial support for patients and their families. It is a thought-provoking journey that culminates in showcasing your insights and strategies in these vital areas. #### Course Structure The course spans over four weeks and is divided into five modules, each focusing on different aspects of palliative care: 1. **Course Introduction and Overview**: This initial module sets the stage by outlining the course structure and encouraging learners to reflect on their evolving perspectives on palliative care. It effectively primes participants for the upcoming projects and exercises. 2. **Advocating for Palliative Care**: Here, learners explore innovative ways to advocate for palliative care within their communities and networks. This module encourages creativity and requires participants to think about their role in demystifying palliative care for those around them. 3. **Promoting Self-Care and Wellness**: A significant focus of this module is on self-care—a crucial concept in palliative settings. The course addresses issues such as compassion fatigue and caregiver burnout, prompting learners to create actionable self-care plans. 4. **Communication Skills**: The landscape of communication has evolved, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This module revisits fundamental communication techniques adapted for virtual environments, emphasizing the importance of empathy and non-verbal cues in remote interactions. 5. **Psychosocial Support for the Patient and Family**: This module dives into understanding emotional distress and coping mechanisms for both patients and their families. It emphasizes the necessity of psychosocial support in palliative care, equipping participants with essential tools to provide comfort and assistance. 6. **Final Thoughts**: The concluding module recaps the key learnings from the course and allows participants to consolidate their insights, reinforcing their understanding of palliative care as a holistic approach. #### Why You Should Take This Course The **Palliative Care Always Capstone Course** is a must for healthcare professionals and anyone interested in the holistic approach to patient care. It serves multiple purposes: - **Personal Growth**: If you are a caregiver or working in healthcare, this course offers invaluable insights into self-care practices, which are essential to prevent burnout and maintain well-being. - **Advocacy Skills**: The course encourages you to take action in your community through advocacy, enabling you to promote the principles of palliative care and educate others about its importance. - **Enhanced Communication**: With an emphasis on modern communication strategies, particularly in a post-pandemic world, you will acquire skills that transcend traditional boundaries and improve your ability to connect with patients and families. - **Practical Application**: The hands-on projects foster creativity while applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, ensuring that you leave the course with practical tools you can use right away. #### Conclusion In summary, the **Palliative Care Always Capstone Course** on Coursera is an enlightening and practical journey for anyone interested in understanding and advocating for the emotional and psychosocial aspects of palliative care. By equipping learners with essential skills and encouraging community engagement, this course truly stands out as a vital resource. I highly recommend it to healthcare professionals, students, and advocates alike, as it prepares you to make a tangible difference in the lives of patients and families facing challenging health journeys. Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your understanding of palliative care and become an informed advocate!

Syllabus

Course Introduction and Overview

This module will introduce you to the exercises and projects you will be creating over the next four weeks. You will also explore how your opinion of palliative care has changed over the course of this specialization.

This module focuses on creative ways to help your community, workplace, or family and friends learn what palliative care is, who can benefit, and how.

In this module, we explore self-care and wellness. You’ve learned about compassion fatigue, burnout and caregiver burden in the previous courses, now it is time to create an action plan.

Now we want to get back to basics with communication skills. Covid-19 has dramatically changed the way we interact with patients, family and friends. Many people have appointments now by phone or online. Families and friend often have to support each other remotely. This new way of interacting can make non-verbal communication and demonstrating empathy more difficult. In this module, you will explore virtual ways to “put a hand on another's shoulder to show support”.

This module explores distress – emotional and psychosocial, and coping with that distress.

This module recaps the key learnings of the specialization Palliative Care Always.