This course should be taken after the Essentials of Palliative Care course and continues building your primary palliative care skills – communication, psychosocial support and goals of care. You will learn how to screen, assess, and manage both physical and psychological symptoms. You will explore common symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue, and distress and learn specific treatments. You will continue to follow Sarah and Tim’s experience and learn cultural competencies critical for optimal symptom management.

  • Respond to the subjective experience of symptoms and side effects using assessment tools and communication skills
  • Conduct a pain assessment and provide basic pain management using medication and lifestyle modification
  • Describe several interventions to help with emotions and coping and the role the palliative care psychiatrist plays in caring for the patient
  • Define distress and common causes of emotional distress related to life-threatening illness