Stanford University

Essentials of Palliative Care

This course is part of Palliative Care Always Specialization

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

Kavitha Ramchandran
Jan DeNofrio

Instructors: Kavitha Ramchandran

4,506 already enrolled

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

4.6

(62 reviews)

|

98%

Beginner level

Recommended experience

10 hours (approximately)
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Define the scope of palliative care and the roles of primary and specialist teams in comprehensive care for patients and families

  • Explain the components of an interdisciplinary patient treatment plan that includes physical, emotional, social and spiritual care

  • Discuss basic strategies for addressing psychosocial and relationship concerns in the context of serious illness

  • Engage in goals of care and advance care planning discussions with patients and families

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

23 quizzes

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

4.6

(62 reviews)

|

98%

Beginner level

Recommended experience

10 hours (approximately)
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Placeholder

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Palliative Care Always Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate
Placeholder
Placeholder

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

Placeholder

There are 7 modules in this course

Welcome! Palliative Care Always is about optimizing quality of life at any stage of disease. This course, Essentials of Palliative Care, is rooted in the belief that incorporating the principles of palliative care into clinical practice can improve the quality of life for our patients and their support systems (including clinicians!). A team of Stanford faculty and staff designed this course to educate you about palliative care. Together, you will learn how it intersects with treating serious illness, and how palliative care skills can help improve quality of life for patients, families and providers. Our hope is that you will feel increasingly equipped to support the diverse needs of patients with serious illness.

What's included

3 readings2 quizzes

This module focuses on what palliative care is, the roles of the care team and the difference between primary and speciality palliative care.

What's included

8 videos6 readings4 quizzes1 discussion prompt1 plugin

Discussing difficult news is always a challenge for a variety of reasons.  In this module, we will cover methods you can use to make these conversations more successful.   Communication is the foundation of patient and clinician relationships and a key component of palliative care. Effective communication can build trust and promote clarity in the face of difficult decisions. Still, communication--especially about prognosis and transitions in care--is a challenging aspect of patient care in which clinicians cite a lack of confidence and skill. This module covers basic skills in communicating with patients, families, and peers. You will hear about practical ways to incorporate communication skills into your daily practice and your daily life. These skills will help you tune in to the needs and desires of patients and families and form a partnership that promotes well-being.

What's included

3 videos7 readings4 quizzes1 discussion prompt1 plugin

Most families living with cancer will experience some form of emotional, psychological or social distress. This may exist as episodes of grief or anxiety at specific points such as diagnosis or progression, or it may be a more chronic experience that has an ongoing impact on relationships and day-to-day life. Psychosocial distress itself affects quality of life while also exacerbating physical symptoms and influencing decisions regarding treatment. This module explores psychosocial distress and introduces you to skills for assessing and managing psychosocial distress. These skills will help you identify and begin to address the emotional and social needs of patients and families.

What's included

2 videos6 readings4 quizzes1 discussion prompt1 plugin

Goals of cancer care are often associated with prolonging life or preparing for the end of life. However, goals of care conversations identify wishes and values that guide every medical decision and help patients and families live the best life possible at every phase of care. Goals of care discussions help patients and providers balance the evidence about disease and treatment with subjective needs and values. To this end, conversations about goals should be introduced early and revisited regularly to make sure healthcare decisions are in line with a patient's wishes. Throughout this module, we introduce goals of care conversations and communication skills as they relate to identifying goals and values.

What's included

2 videos7 readings4 quizzes1 discussion prompt

Healthcare providers, in general, make a life of being attentive to and providing resources for people during times of illness and suffering. This type of work, while essential and rewarding, undoubtedly bears its cost in work-related stress, burnout and fatigue. The response to internal and external stress is a key influencer on wellbeing. During this module, we discuss how to identify burnout in yourself and provide tips to ease the challenges that healthcare providers face.

What's included

2 videos4 readings3 quizzes1 discussion prompt1 plugin

Congratulations on completing the course content. You have a few more step to complete the course. First review your reflection, next complete a peer-reviewed course project and then take the final exam. We hope you have enjoyed the course and look forward to seeing you in other classes!

What's included

1 reading2 quizzes1 peer review

Instructors

Instructor ratings
4.6 (37 ratings)
Kavitha Ramchandran
Stanford University
5 Courses7,082 learners
Jan DeNofrio
Stanford University
5 Courses7,082 learners

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Patient Care

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 62

4.6

62 reviews

  • 5 stars

    80.64%

  • 4 stars

    12.90%

  • 3 stars

    1.61%

  • 2 stars

    0%

  • 1 star

    4.83%

ZK
5

Reviewed on Sep 4, 2023

SC
5

Reviewed on Dec 10, 2021

CH
5

Reviewed on Jan 16, 2023

New to Patient Care? Start here.

Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions