Education Newsletter

Important Dates

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

Oct. 20-27: Invisible Disabilities Week

Oct. 1st

• Hot Tips
• Beyond the Stethoscope

Oct. 2nd

• Brenda Smith Leadership Award Nomination Deadline

Oct. 3rd

• Fundamentals Week 4 (Fall 2024 Class)

Oct. 5th

• World Meningitis Day

Oct. 6th

• World Cerebral Palsy Day

Oct. 10th

• Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Awareness Day

Oct. 12th

• World Hospice and Palliative Care Day

Oct. 14th

• Thanksgiving Monday

Oct. 15th

• Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
• World Wave of Light
• CAPCE Week 6 (Fall 2024 Class)

Oct. 16th

• APPS 3 of 4 (Fall 2024 Class)

Oct. 17th

• FHPC Week 6 (Fall 2024 Class)

Oct. 24th

• ECHO - Palliative Care Emergencies: Do You Know What To Do? (registration required)

Oct. 25th

• REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Canadian Serious Illness Conversations

Oct. 29th

• World Psoriasis Day

Oct. 31st

• FHPC Enhanced Week 8 (Fall 2024 Class)

Thank You, Don Atkinson!

For 14 incredible years, Don Atkinson has been a dedicated member of our NSMHPCN Board of Directors. His passion and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on our organization and the communities we serve.

Recently, we were honoured to gather and present Don with a custom Muskoka Chair—a small token of our immense appreciation for his years of service.

Thank you, Don, for your dedication, guidance, and all you’ve done to support our mission. We wish you nothing but relaxation and joy in the next chapter of your journey!

Air Date: 01-OCT-24

Topic of Discussion: Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)

Join our host, Lori Gill, NSMHPCN Education Specialist, and her guests Julie Leighton-Phelps, NSMHPCN PPSMC, and MJ, who has developed a support group for survivors of MAID. Julie and MJ will take you along for a heartfelt discussion on MAID and what it is like to be a survivor of MAID.

Palliative Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The palliative care needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities share the same fundamental goals as those of the general population: the desire for a death free from pain and discomfort, the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, and the importance of having their personal preferences and decisions honoured when it comes to their care and treatment.



While these core needs are consistent across all individuals, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities often encounter specific and unique issues that can make it significantly more challenging to meet these needs effectively. These challenges may include difficulties with communication, which can affect every aspect of palliative care, as well as struggles with insight and the ability to participate in decision-making processes.

Additionally, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities might express signs and symptoms of illness and distress in unconventional ways, face multiple co-existing medical conditions, experience complex family and social dynamics, and deal with higher levels of behavioural or psychiatric issues. As a result, addressing their palliative care needs requires tailored approaches and heightened attention to these unique factors.

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

Fee: $250

Upcoming Offerings:

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

Fee: $40

Upcoming Offerings:

Canadian Serious Illness Conversations (CSIC)

This program equips healthcare professionals with the skills to have compassionate and effective conversations with patients, families, and caregivers facing serious illness. Focusing on person-centred values, goals, and wishes, these conversations help reduce confusion and ensure that care decisions align with what matters most to the individual. The training includes a self-learning module and a facilitated session, guiding professionals in the use of the Serious Illness Conversation Guide developed by Ariadne Labs and Pallium Canada.

Duration: Approximately 5 months

Fee: FREE

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.