Course Code: REL-PAC-ELNEC-USMSMC
Hours: 2
Type: Online Course
Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2026
Learning Objectives:
Identify common symptoms and their etiologies associated with serious illness(es) across the lifespan.
Describe the assessment of common symptoms affecting patients with serious illness(es).
Apply principles of holistic care in the management of common symptoms associated with serious illness(es).
Outline:
Section 1: Introduction
About This Module
Learning Objectives
Section 2: Introduction to Symptom Management
Essential Elements
Symptoms and Suffering
Comprehensive Assessment in Palliative Care
Children
Older Adults
Symptom Management in Older Adults
Summary
Section 3: Physical Symptoms
Common Symptoms
Dyspnea
Assessment of Dyspnea
Management of Dyspnea
Critical Thinking
Fatigue
Assessment of Fatigue
Management of Fatigue
Anorexia and Cachexia
Causes of Anorexia and Cachexia
Assessment of Anorexia and Cachexia
Management of Anorexia and Cachexia
Nausea and Vomiting
Assessment of Nausea and Vomiting
Management of Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and Vomiting Case Study
Constipation
Assessment of Constipation
Management of Constipation
Review: Meet Mrs. Pittman
Diarrhea
Assessment of Diarrhea
Management of Diarrhea
Insomnia or Sleep Disturbances
Assessment of Insomnia or Sleep Disturbances
Management of Insomnia or Sleep Disturbances
Summary
Section 4: Psychosocial and Spiritual Issues
Psychological Issues
Depression
Assessment of Depression
Suicide Assessment
Management of Depression
Anxiety
Causes of Anxiety
Assessment of Anxiety
Management of Anxiety
Critical Thinking Question
Cognitive Changes
Causes of Cognitive Changes
Assessment of Cognitive Changes
Management of Cognitive Changes
Spiritual Distress
Spiritual Crisis
Key Points
Review: Symptom Management Case Study
Summary
Section 5: Conclusion
Module Summary
Course Contributors
Resources
References
Subject Matter Expert: 2023 ELNEC Undergrad New Graduate Series
The content for this course was written by The ELNEC Project Team.
The ELNEC Project, which began in 2000, is a collaboration between City of Hope, Duarte, CA and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Washington, DC. For more information about ELNEC, go to www.aacnnursing.org/ELNEC
The content for this course was revised by:
Andra Davis, PhD, MN, RN, Associate Professor and ELNEC Co-Investigator, School of Nursing and Health Innovations, University of Portland.
Dr. Davis has clinical expertise in oncology, palliative and hospice care. As nursing faculty at University of Portland School of Nursing and Health Innovations in Portland, Oregon, she teaches undergraduate, graduate, and Integrative Health and Wellness students. Her research expertise focuses in two areas: palliative care education and use of evidence-based guidelines in cancer symptom care. She is the co-investigator with the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) focused on supporting schools of nursing to advance palliative care education for undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Davis has a collaborative research partnership developing palliative care outcome measures for use in undergraduate nursing education. A ‘research hub’ housed at University of Portland was created for educators around the country to access these palliative care education evaluation measures and for ongoing psychometric evaluation of the tools.
Megan Lippe, PhD, MSN, RN, Associate Professor and ELNEC Co-Investigator, School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio.
Dr. Megan Lippe is an Associate Professor with tenure and palliative care expert. She has been recognized as an emerging national leader for palliative nursing care education with published works in areas related to palliative care education, simulation, interprofessional education, and social justice. She is the co-lead of a research team evaluating implementation and outcomes for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Undergraduate Curriculum. Dr. Lippe has been a registered nurse since 2009, and earned her BSN, MSN, and PhD degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. She taught at the UT Austin from 2011-2016 and the University of Alabama from 2016-2021. Dr. Lippe joined the faculty at UT Health San Antonio in the fall 2021. In collaboration with colleagues, Dr. Lippe has conducted multiple studies that have resulted in the creation of new quantitative measures to assess primary palliative care curriculum, self-competence, knowledge and competence for nursing students and entry-to-practice nurses. She has developed and tested multiple, high-fidelity, palliative care simulations and has worked as a simulation consultant and specialist. Dr. Lippe is a 2019 Cambia Sojourns and recipient of the 2017 ELNEC Award and 2019 Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association New Investigator Award.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: General Staff; in the following settings: Hospice, Palliative Care.
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Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.