Goals and Objectives End of Life Curriculum

1. Death is a natural part of the life cycle

2. the concepts and philosophy of palliative care

3. Uncertainties of prognostication when managing terminally ill patients

4. the various settings in which palliative and end of life care are provided

5. the pathophysiology and management of the common symptoms encountered at end of life:

a) pain

b) nausea and vomiting

c) anorexia

d) anxiety

e) constipation

f) delirium

g) depression

h) fatigue

i) dyspnea

6. the potential adverse effects of common medications used for control of symptoms of terminally ill patients

7. the World Health Organization pain ladder

8. the physiologic changes that occur as patients are dying

9. the principle of double effect

10. normal and complicated bereavement and grief reactions