Education Newsletter

Important Dates

Monthly

• Blood Cancer Awareness Month
• Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
• Worth Alzheimer's Month

Weekly

Sept. 22 - 29

• National Gender Equality Week

Daily

Sept. 1st

• Hot Tips
• Beyond the Stethoscope

Sept. 4th

• National Wildlife Day

Sept. 5th

• International Day of Charity

Sept. 6th

• National Food Bank Day

Sept. 8th

• National Grandparents Day

Sept. 9th

• International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day

Sept. 15th

• Worldwide Lymphoma Awareness Day

Sept. 17th

• Registration Deadline: EPM

Sept. 18th

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Day

Sept. 21st

• International Day of Peace

Sept. 22nd

• CML Awareness Day

Sept. 26th

• ECHO - Dyspnea (registration required)

Sept. 27th

• National Tree Day

Education opens the door to understanding. Together, we can create a more informed and compassionate society. Help spread the word and register for this year’s Truth and Reconciliation Week at trw-svr.nctr.ca/register



#TruthandReconciliationWeek #TeachersforTruth #nctr_um

Air Date: 01-SEPT-24

Topic of Discussion: Anticipatory Grief

Join our host, Lori Gill, NSMHPCN Education Specialist, and her guests Kristen Lew-Byrne, RSW, Growing In Grief, and Sidney Grocott, RSW, Hospice Orillia, as they discuss anticipatory grief.

The Role of Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life

Nutrition and hydration play crucial roles throughout our lives, starting from birth. In our culture, food and drink often symbolize love and care, offering a nonverbal means of communication.

For terminally ill individuals, eating and drinking habits naturally change as the body slows down. Decreased appetite and thirst are typical, and it's important not to compel them to consume food or fluids. Allowing them to choose what and when to eat can benefit both them and their caregivers, preventing unnecessary emotional burdens like guilt or rejection.

As the disease progresses, taste buds may alter, making food taste differently or water taste metallic. Reduced hunger and thirst, along with resultant weight loss, are part of the body's adaptation towards a peaceful end. Evidence shows that increasing oral intake does not extend life or alleviate suffering in terminal illness.

As the body's nutrition needs decrease, changes in alertness may occur. Interestingly, dehydration can alleviate symptoms such as nausea, swelling, and pain by triggering natural responses in the body. Artificial hydration methods like IVs or tube feedings can actually worsen discomfort due to side effects.

Honouring a terminally ill person's natural intake preferences supports their comfort and dignity while respecting their body's natural processes towards the end of life.

ESSENTIAL PAIN MANAGEMENT (EPM)

Over the course of six weeks, NSMHPCN Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultants (PPSMCs) will work with EPM learners to provide foundational knowledge and skills in pain assessment, management, and evaluation from a palliative care approach. The focus of the course is on the pharmacological management of pain, which can then be applied to practice.

The focus of this course is on the pharmacological management of pain. Pain assessment, management, and evaluation are foundational skills for nurses working in any practice setting. EPM aims to equip nurses with a foundational knowledge base and skills around pain management, from a palliative care approach, that can be applied to your practice.

Course Components:

EPM: You will have a minimum of six weeks to complete the course. To receive an EPM certificate, you must:

• complete the four modules online and
• attend one 90-minute, mandatory online coaching session.

OPTIONAL MODULE: Advanced Approaches to Manage Pain (AMP) Preparation

Following EPM, you will have automatic access to the online AMP Preparation Module to explore advanced pain management.

Following successful completion of the AMP Preparation module, and the AMP module quiz, you’ll earn your AMP Preparation badge. At this time, you will be able to attend the 3-hour AMP coaching session. To receive an AMP certificate, you must complete:

• the online AMP Preparation Module
• one mandatory 3-hour, AMP coaching session with case-based activities to practice your skills

All course components are mandatory, including attendance at all virtual in-class learning sessions.

Pre-requisite: None

Duration: Approximately 8 weeks

Upcoming Offerings:

Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care

Upcoming Offerings:

Comprehensive Advanced Palliative Care Education (CAPCE) Program

The CAPCE program is uniquely designed for nurses (RPN, RN, NP) to develop their leadership and expertise skills in hospice palliative care across all healthcare sectors.



Pre-requisites:

To be eligible to participate in the CAPCE program, the following pre-requisites are required

• Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care Program
• A minimum of 1-year experience caring for people with a progressive, life-limiting illness
• Ability and interest to function as a Resource Nurse, providing primary level support and advanced level knowledge and skills for care team members in his or her organization
• Ability and interest to coach others, facilitate change and be a role model
• Sensitivity to the impact of attitudes, behaviours, life experiences, values, thoughts and feelings on the well-being and quality of life from the perspective of all partners in care

Duration: Approximately 5 months

Upcoming Offerings:

2023 - 2024 Annual Report

This past year has taught us valuable lessons in innovation, growth, resilience, and adaptation. As we look to the future, we are committed to fostering exceptional palliative and end-of-life care through partnerships, innovative programs, and knowledge exchange. Our dedicated staff and volunteers have shown tremendous dedication, and we are proud of their commitment to excellence. The impact we had in the past year is something to truly be proud of. We will continue to remain focused on innovation and growth to achieve even greater heights with the support of our team, care partners, and community. We invite you to read our 2023-2024 Annual Report to learn more about our achievements and future plans.

To read please visit: https://bit.ly/AnnRep24 or click on the button below.