Students complete palliative care course
“The establishment of our own Centre for Palliative Learning is in line with our vision of becoming a five-star hospice,” said the manager of the centre, Sonia Thomson.
HISTORY was made at Stepping Stone Hospice and Care Services on May 22 when the first group of students at the hospice’s newly established Centre for Palliative Learning received their certificates on completion of the Introduction to Palliative Care course.
The group of 16 students was comprised of hospice staff members, volunteers and members of our community. They successfully completed the 40-hour course, which took place over five days. Some of the subjects covered were principles of palliative care, pain assessment and symptom management, communication, and loss, grief and bereavement.
“The establishment of our own Centre for Palliative Learning is in line with our vision of becoming a five-star hospice. It is also a fact that palliative care will become an integral part of the health system in South Africa and expert training will therefore be required,” said the manager of the centre, Sonia Thomson.
Understanding palliative care and training has a dramatic impact on the quality of life of patients with an active, progressive and far advanced disease. The focus of care shifts to quality of life through the relief and prevention of suffering.
Palliative care is required for a wide range of diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, Aids and diabetes. It therefore makes sense that not only professional and enrolled nurses, caregivers and multidisciplinary teams undergo the training, but also family members of patients.
Fiona Shraga facilitated the course. Fiona is a nursing tutor and HPCA e-learning national co-ordinator in the Short Course Palliative Care Nursing and has several qualifications behind her name, such as professional nurse and midwife. She has a degree in nursing education, nursing management and community health and completed her palliative care training at Wits Hospice. The e-learning online facilitation course was done through UCT.
Dates for the next course will soon be announced.
“However, anyone interested in attending is more than welcome to mail me their details. We will respond with exact dates once finalised,” said Sonia.
Contact Sonia at sonia@steppingstonehospice.co.za
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