Plan of Study – Grad Cert Hospice and Palliative Studies

Note: A Semester Hour (s.h.) is a unit of academic credit representing an hour of class (such as lecture class) or three hours of laboratory work each week for an academic semester. Most courses are two, three or four semester hours.

Grad Cert Hospice and Palliative Studies

Certificate Requirements (Minimum of 9 semester hours required.)

HSP 5015 History, Philosophy, & Practice of HSP & Palliative Care (HSP*/NUR) (3 s.h.)

Examines the foundational concepts and skills needed to participate in high quality, person-centered hospice and palliative care. An emphasis is placed on the evolution of the hospice and palliative care philosophy, including grief and bereavement theories, and how they are incorporated across the life span in various settings.

HSP 5210/5500 Choice (Choose from: HSP 5210 or HSP 5500.)

HSP 5210 Trauma, Loss and Grief: Helping Families Heal (3 s.h.)

In-depth analysis of family dynamics following normative loss, traumatic loss or other life transition events. Theoretical foundations include family systems theory, family developmental/lifespan theories, crisis and communication theory, attachment theory, and grief theories that promote adaptation and transformation through the grieving process. The social context of grief is explored at the individual, familial and societal levels of intervention as they impact family structure and cohesiveness. Students explore their own family-of-origin loss experiences through analysis of case studies, popular cultural portrayal of loss in videos and music, and selected experiential activities such as relaxation, meditation, and writing/journaling.

HSP 5500 Spiritual & Ethical Considerations in Pall/End-of-Life Care (HSP*/MPM) (3 s.h.)

Examines dying as potentially the last stage of human development and spiritual growth. Explores spirituality and enhances religious literacy through identification of the salient beliefs and practices regarding illness, dying, death, and burial rituals of major world religions. Discusses choices at end of life with advanced care planning and applies ethical theories, principles, and steps that guide decision making for individuals, families, and caregivers in Palliative/End-of-Life (EOL) while addressing issues affecting delivery of appropriate pastoral care in Palliative/EOL situations. Prerequisite: HSP 5015.

HSP 6000 Advanced Holistic Palliative Care (3 s.h.)

Examines the provision of comprehensive holistic palliative care for patients with advanced illness, the terminally ill, and their families. Multidimensional aspects of pain and suffering and the impact on the patient/family and hospice interdisciplinary teams are discussed within theoretical and practical perspectives. Synthesizes requirements needed for the delivery of quality end of life care within a complex health care system that includes hospice and other models of palliative care delivery. Communication strategies and practices are examined as they relate to advanced/terminal illness, ethical patient care, dying and death. Prerequisite or corequisite: HSP 5015.