Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care (GC-PALCARE) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

Intended learning outcomes

Beyond the core curriculum of the Specialist Certificate, the Graduate Certificate will continue to extend health professional competencies across a greater range of clinical areas. Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care will have increased knowledge, skills and competence in areas specific to their professional roles and care settings and as determined by the subjects they elect to complete.

On completion of the course students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced theoretical and practical understanding of contemporary palliative care practice
• Critique and use evidence-based practice in the clinical setting.
• Use analysis and evaluation to assist in assessing and managing a range of physical symptoms in adult and paediatric populations.
• Determine the role of a multidisciplinary team in meeting the needs of a patient and family with a life limiting illness and demonstrate an enhanced ability to transmit solutions to the team.
• Identify and respond to psychosocial issues as they relate to palliative care including distinguishing between different forms of psychological and psychiatric disorders.
• Critically analyse and respond to the impact of loss and bereavement both for themselves and for the provision of services to patients as practitioners.
• Apply ethical reasoning in their clinical practice.

Generic skills

On completion of the course, students should have:

• An advanced theoretical and practical understanding of contemporary palliative care practice
• Developed the capacity to analyse and relate evidence based practice to the clinical setting
• Increased their level of clinical competency in analysis and evaluation to assist in assessing and managing a range of clinical symptoms
• Considered the role of a multidisciplinary team in meeting the needs of a patient and family with a life limiting illness and enhanced ability to transmit solutions to the team
• Critically analysed the impact of loss and bereavement both for themselves and for the provision of services to patients as practitioners

Graduate attributes