Examination arrangement

Course content

The competence program in Child palliation aims to promote the student's knowledge of child palliation at a children's hospice. In the education, students learn to take care of the experiences of seriously ill children and their relatives and integrate these into a common knowledge, find information that may be relevant and carry out a critical evaluation of help and follow-up to, shaped by empathic communication with the individual child and family . Development of the student's skills to listen to and to understand the difficult situation the children and their parents find themselves in, knowledge and skills about measures in relation to alleviating symptoms, and interdisciplinary collaboration at a children's hospice are central learning objectives in the competence programme.

Basic introduction to pediatric palliation:

1) The basis for pediatric palliation: a) Child palliation - developmental trends, b)Hospice philosophy:a philosophy of treatment and care, focus on the family, holistic approach, alleviation of ailments, psychosocial support, spiritual/existential support, c) Habilitation, rehabilitation, treatment and relief, d) Ethical challenges in the palliative field related to the treatment of the seriously ill child

2) Communication with the child and family: a)Can identify various barriers to communication, b)Communication skills related to various situations such as:"breaking bad news", facilitate the opportunity to express feelings, thoughts and needs, understand non-verbal communication, listen and face concerns in physical, psychological, social and existential areas, pay attention to and interpret various clinical conditions in the sick child, can convey information in a sensitive way that takes care of the individual child's special needs and meets the family's wishes and needs, facilitates involvement in the decision-making process, supports the individual's sense of self and self-determination, conversations about uncertainty and future prospects.c)The importance of creating a climate for open conversations with the family d)Preparatory conversations (advanced care planning)

3) Psychosocial and spiritual/existential awareness: a)Help and support for the family through the course of the child's illness and death b)How the specific diagnosis, personal factors, family dynamics and cultural influences influence reactions in relation to the course of the disease c)How previous loss and associated grief affect families and their experiences through the child's illness and death process d)Differences in coping patterns among children, parents and siblings in different families e)Development of own resources that help and being able to identify when referral to others is necessary. f)Knowledge of the comprehensive service offering's resources

4) Greavement support: a)Normal grief and complicated grief b)Waiting care c)How to support children and parents/other adults through grief

5) Team work: a)Interdisciplinary/cross-sector collaboration b)Opportunities and challenges of working in teams

Clinical care

1) In-depth knowledge of various main groups of disease states and disease states that are life-threatening and life-limiting in children

2) Pain and symptom relief: a)Physiology and pathophysiology b)Identifying pain in newborns/infants, children and adolescents c)Know different tools in pain assessment and their use d)Know the in-depth principles of pain management related to various conditions in children and young people.

3) Assess and manage other troublesome symptoms

4) Care at the end of life for the dying child

Learning outcome

After completing the course:

Knowledge

• The candidate has advanced knowledge within the following topics in child palliation: a)Disease/symptom development and symptom relief,b) Psychosocial and physical development in children, with a focus on vulnerability factors in the seriously ill child, c) Ethical and legal aspects related to treatment and restriction of treatment, d)Social, spiritual and existential conditions linked to being a seriously ill child and living in a family where one or more of the children is seriously chronically ill, e) Meeting with death - care of the deceased
• The candidate is familiar with research and development work within palliative care and has knowledge of the subject's scientific theory and methods
• The candidate can update their knowledge and apply knowledge in new areas within palliative care- The candidate has knowledge of the basic values ​​of the hospice philosophy, the subject's history, traditions, uniqueness and place in society

Skills

• The candidate can apply professional knowledge and relevant results from research and development work to practical and theoretical issues and make reasoned choices
• The candidate can reflect on their own professional practice and adjust this under guidance
• The candidate can find, critically evaluate and refer to information and subject matter and use these to structure and formulate professional reasoning
• The candidate has the ability to identify and reflect on challenging situations when dealing with the seriously ill, the patient and his/her family, act in step with, and with due regard for, the other's situation at a pace that takes care of the patient and relatives

General competence

• The candidate can analyze relevant professional and professional ethical issues when dealing with seriously ill, dying people and their families and take the initiative in professional and ethical discussions
• The candidate can convey relevant knowledge about palliative care both in writing and orally
• The candidate has a repertoire of actions at an advanced level in communication with seriously ill and dying children and their relatives
• The candidate has developed personal and professional security to enter into challenging situations with patients and relatives
• The candidate can take responsibility for their own reactions in the face of serious illness and death, as well as the collegial collaborative relationships they form part of
• The candidate can communicate about professional issues within the subject area, both with specialists and to the general public

Learning methods and activities

Resource lectures, online teaching, group work, case studies, role plays, reflection, exchange of practical experience, guidance and fellow student guidance.

Time must be calculated for self-learning and self-study.

Compulsory assignments

• Individual written assignment
• Individual written reflection note
• Group assignment
• Attendance requirement

Further on evaluation

One work requirement linked to each module, a total of 4 work requirements

1) individual written, assignment

2) individual written reflection note

3) presentation in a group, fellow student/teacher guidance

4) Attendance - 80%

The work requirements must be approved in order to sit for the exam.

Exam

Form: Individual, written home exam

Re-sit exam: Contact course responsible

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Company internal course:

Bachelor's degree in health sciences, minimum 2 years of relevant work experience in palliative care/care for seriously ill children or other relevant background.

Course materials

Stated at the start of the course.