Course Title: Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2025
Course Code: NURS5433C
Course Title: Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice
School: 535T Social Care and Health
Campus: Bundoora Campus
Program: C5417 - Diploma of Nursing
Course Contact: Suzie Cicero
Course Contact Phone: 03 9925-1812
Course Contact Email: suzie.cicero@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
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Bundoora Campus - Pink Garg City campus – Prem Kaur |
Nominal Hours: 70
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Nil
Course Description
In this course, you will gain knowledge of the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide a person-centred approach to palliative and end of life care in primary health care, hospitals, hospices, home and community care, and long-term care facilities.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
HLTENN068 Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice |
Element: |
1. Identify and apply palliative approach to care. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1. Undertake assessments using palliative principles and approach. 1.2. Apply pathophysiological changes associated with a life-limiting illness. 1.3. Assess pain management and implement strategies to address pain. 1.4. Assess preferences for symptom management and quality of life. 1.5. Reflect on lifestyle choices to formulate and implement the plan of care. 1.6. Identify and work within roles and responsibilities of the multidisciplinary health care team when planning palliative care. |
Element: |
2. Support families and carers using palliative care approach. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1. Identify and apply the advanced care plan and directive. 2.2. Provide the families and carers with opportunities to confirm spiritual and cultural issues. 2.3. Apply communication techniques when accessing support services. 2.4. Monitor condition and provide accurate and timely information that respects the families and carers' wishes. |
Element: |
3. Identify needs of a person requiring end of life care. |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1. Provide nursing care by applying a palliative approach and culturally sensitive end of life care. 3.2. Provide symptom management including goals of care, education, psychological and spiritual support. 3.3. Identify end of life care needs for those with cognitive decline and mental health impairment. |
Element: |
4. Identify and respond to signs of deterioration and the stages of dying. |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1. Support the person, families and carers throughout the end of life phase. 4.2. Identify physiological signs and symptoms of dying and report signs of deterioration and implement the person's wishes as per the plan of care. 4.3. Support the dignity of the person when undertaking care activities in their end of life stages. 4.4. Identify and respond to legal and ethical issues with deterioration and stages of dying. |
Element: |
5. Provide care after death. |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1. Determine extinction of life and acknowledge bereavement support. 5.2. Ensure after death care is carried out with dignity and respect, and that individual customs, culture, religion, spiritual practices and choices are taken into account. 5.3. Provide care of the body after death using standard precautions. |
Element: |
6. Recognise and reflect on own emotional self-care. |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1. Identify and reflect on own need for self-care. 6.2. Identify and implement ways to sustain own social and emotional wellbeing. 6.3. Encourage self and colleagues to access support and participate in professional debriefing |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.
Details of Learning Activities
This unit is designed to be delivered in a Blended Learning mode. Blended Learning involves learning through various modes, for example, online learning and learning in a classroom and clinical labs. This unit is delivered using flipped learning methodology.
The Blended Learning approach for this unit includes:
- Online learning - provide you with formative feedback and facilitate your learning as you progress through your course
- Classroom teaching - introducing you to key concepts within the course
- Labs - provide practice and simulation
- Clinical experience - provides you with practical experience in a nursing health care environment
- Self directed learning - such as reading to expand your knowledge and understanding of information delivered
All learning activities you will undertake within the course are designed to provide you with the practical skills, knowledge and attitudes required to perform to the standard expected in the health industry.
Teaching Schedule
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Training Product Details | |||
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Course Code |
HLT54121 |
Course Title |
Diploma of Nursing |
|
Unit Code |
HLTENN068 |
Unit Title |
Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice |
Delivery Details | ||||||
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Group Names |
Group Titles |
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B24M, C24M |
Bundoora- NURS5433C City- NURS5432C |
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Unit Start Date |
Unit End Date |
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15/08/2025 |
27/03/2026 |
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Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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Start Time |
As per Timetable |
As per Timetable |
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Finish Time |
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Contact Details | ||
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Name |
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Teacher |
Bundoora campus- Nazish Bhalwany City Campus – Jane McClure |
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Program Coordinator |
Bundoora Campus - Pink Garg City campus – Prem Kaur |
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Program Manager |
Suzie Cicero |
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Delivery Overview Hours | |||||
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Classroom |
Online |
Workplace |
Self-Directed Study |
Other |
Nominal Hours |
18 |
0 |
27 |
13 |
12 |
70 |
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Unit Details | ||||||||||
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Unit Type |
u |
Core |
☐ |
Elective |
Final Result Outcome |
u |
Ungraded |
S/NYS |
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Pre-Requisites |
None |
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Description |
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide a person-centred approach to palliative and end of life care in primary health care, hospitals, hospices, home and community care, and long-term care facilities. |
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Elements | ||||||||||
1 |
Identify and apply palliative approach to care. |
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2 |
Support families and carers using palliative care approach. |
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3 |
Identify needs of a person requiring end of life care. |
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4 |
Identify and respond to signs of deterioration and the stages of dying. |
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5 |
Provide care after death. |
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6 |
Recognise and reflect on own emotional self-care. |
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Assessment Details
A range of assessment methods will be used to provide students the opportunity to demonstrate competence to achieve the unit requirements. This can range from:
- Knowledge Questioning – either written or verbal, this method is used to assess your knowledge
- Product based – can range from written reports, work samples, presentations, product displays, projects, case studies, portfolios
- Practical Observation – can be in real time in the workplace or through practical simulated off the job for example role plays in labs
Student are required to demonstrate and achieve all aspects and requirements of the assessment task. Students will be assessed as Satisfactory (S) or Not Yet satisfactory (NYS). A student must achieve a satisfactory outcome for all assessment tasks prior to a final unit result outcome of Competency Achieved (CA) being recorded.
The assessment methods being used for this unit are outlined below:
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Task |
Method and Type |
Ungraded |
Due Date |
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|
Knowledge |
Product Based |
Practical |
|||
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AT1- Case study Assessment |
Part 1-Two patients’ assessments Part 2- 14 Short answer questions (online assignment from home) |
S/NYS |
Week 11, TBA |
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AT2- Knowledge Quiz |
12 MCQs, true/false and match the columns (online, in-class assessment) |
S/NYS |
Week 12, TBA |
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AT3- Simulated Practical Assessment |
Care of patient before and after death- practical task in lab |
S/NYS |
Week 13, TBA |
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AT4- Clinical Placement |
Clinical Placement 3 |
S/NYS |
TBA |
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Assessment Conditions
1. Refer to individual assessment task instructions for information on when and how to submit and
specific assessment conditions.
2. All written assessments must be submitted online through Canvas and/or on paper.
3. Students are assessed as either S (satisfactory) or NYS (Not yet satisfactory) for each task. Each task
explains how students are assessed.
4. Every task must be completed satisfactorily to be assessed as competent in the unit.
5. Students are permitted 2 attempts on written and practical assessments.
6. Resubmissions are not automatic and will only be approved at the discretion of the Program
Coordinator, after consultation with the teacher. Attendance and course engagement will be taken
into consideration when deciding.
7. For written assessments, if you answer less than 50% of the questions in each part during your first
attempt, you will not be granted a second attempt.
8. All resubmissions must be completed and submitted no more than 7 days after the work has been
assessed.
9. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK CANVAS FOR ASSESSMENT RESULTS AND FEEDBACK
AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.
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Delivery Schedule |
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Date, Week, Session |
Topic, Activity, Assessment |
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Session 1 |
Session 1- Principles of palliative care
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Session 2 |
Session 2- Communicating with people with a life limiting illness
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Session 3 |
Session 3-Principles of symptom assessment and management
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Session 4 |
Session 4- Assessment and management of pain
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Session 5 |
Session 5- Optimising function in palliative care
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Session 6 |
Session 6- End-of-life care and bereavement support
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Date, Week, Session |
Clinical skill Lab Sessions and Activities |
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Lab 1 and 2 |
Practice-based Clinical lab 1
Practice-based Clinical lab 2
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Week 11 |
AT1 - Case study |
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Week 12 |
AT2 – Knowledge Quiz (online assessment) |
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Week 13 |
AT3: In-lab Simulated Practical Assessment |
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TBC |
AT4- Clinical Placement |
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Theory and practical class requirements All students are required to:
Clinical Placement |
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All HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing Students must attend clinical placement. This unit requires satisfactory completion of a relevant clinical placement. Clinical placements are arranged at a variety of locations across the State. Although every effort is made to allocate each student a placement close to their home this is not always possible. Students must attend the placement allocated to them. All students are provided with one (1) attempt for each clinical placement type, with additional attempts of any placement type only offered in specific situations. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral/written presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS.
During the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), you will complete 400 hours of compulsory unpaid clinical placements, across four phases (semesters). Aged Care 120 hours, Mental Health and Primary Health 80 hours each and Acute Care 120 hours.
You must meet all the unit/course requirements before you are eligible for clinical placement, this includes immunisations, NDIS check, Working with Childrens and Police check. If you do not meet these requirements, you may incur a penalty in the form of a fine.
Assessment Tasks
The assessment methods being used for this unit are outlined below:
|
Task |
Method and Type |
Ungraded |
Due Date |
||
|
Knowledge |
Product Based |
Practical |
|||
|
AT1- Case study Assessment |
Part 1-Two patients’ assessments Part 2- 14 Short answer questions (online assignment from home) |
S/NYS |
Week 11, TBA |
||
AT2- Knowledge Quiz |
12 MCQs, true/false and match the columns (online, in-class assessment) |
S/NYS |
Week 12, TBA |
||
|
AT3- Simulated Practical Assessment |
Care of patient before and after death- practical task in lab |
S/NYS |
Week 13, TBA |
||
|
AT4- Clinical Placement |
Clinical Placement 3 |
S/NYS |
TBA |
||
Assessment Conditions
1. Refer to individual assessment task instructions for information on when and how to submit and
specific assessment conditions.
2. All written assessments must be submitted online through Canvas and/or on paper.
3. Students are assessed as either S (satisfactory) or NYS (Not yet satisfactory) for each task. Each task
explains how students are assessed.
4. Every task must be completed satisfactorily to be assessed as competent in the unit.
5. Students are permitted 2 attempts on written and practical assessments.
6. Resubmissions are not automatic and will only be approved at the discretion of the Program
Coordinator, after consultation with the teacher. Attendance and course engagement will be taken
into consideration when deciding.
7. For written assessments, if you answer less than 50% of the questions in each part during your first
attempt, you will not be granted a second attempt.
8. All resubmissions must be completed and submitted no more than 7 days after the work has been
assessed.
9. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK CANVAS FOR ASSESSMENT RESULTS AND FEEDBACK
AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
Student Attendance
All students are required to:
- Check student emails and Canvas announcements daily. On occasions timetable and assessment dates may need to change. If this occurs, you will be notified.
- Attend and participate appropriately in all scheduled activities.
- Complete pre-class preparation – e.g., recommended reading and learning activities on Canvas.
- Study all material provided to maximize chances of meeting the Unit's objectives.
- Complete post-class activities as per canvas.
- Meet the 100% attendance requirement for lectures.
- Up to 80% attendance will be accepted with evidence in the form of a medical certificate or statutory declaration. It will be the student's responsibility to catch up and/ or seek assistance from their educator. If a student’s attendance falls below 80%, they will undergo a review by the RMIT Nursing Program Coordinator and may be required to repeat the course.
- All students must demonstrate 80% engagement with the learning resources provided. This includes but is not limited to the Canvas practice knowledge quizzes, which must be completed on time. Canvas analytics will be used to identify student engagement. This can affect student progression.
- All students must meet the 100% attendance requirement for practical sessions. Evidence in the form of a medical certificate or statutory declaration must be provided if one cannot attend to qualify for a make-up session. The 'make-up' session time and date will be at the discretion of the RMIT Nursing Program Coordinator. Non-attendance to the make-up session without evidence to support the non-attendance can result in no further opportunity.
- Full laboratory uniform is required for laboratory sessions. Students not appropriately attired will not be allowed to practice.
- Failure to meet the 100% practical sessions attendance requirement can result in exclusion from the clinical skills assessments, leading to a Not Yet Satisfactory result and ultimately Not Yet Competent outcome in relevant courses.
- Four hundred (400) clinical placement hours must be completed by the end of the Diploma of nursing program to meet the program requirements.
Clinical Placement
Please note an opportunity to repeat clinical placement is not guaranteed and will be at the discretion of the Program Manager. The above requirements will be considered in the decision making.
Important information regarding Assessment Tasks:
- Refer to individual assessment task instructions for information on when and how to submit and specific assessment conditions.
- All written assessments must be submitted online through Canvas and/or on paper.
- Students are assessed as either S (satisfactory) or NYS (Not yet satisfactory) for each task. Each task explains how students are assessed.
- Every task must be completed satisfactorily to be assessed as competent in the unit.
Assessment Attempts:
You are permitted 2 attempts on written and practical assessments.
- Resubmissions are not automatic and will only be approved at the discretion of the Program Coordinator, after consultation with the teacher. Attendance and course engagement will be taken into consideration when deciding.
- All resubmissions must be completed and submitted no more than 7 days after your work has been assessed.
Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer
If you think you have some or all of the knowledge and competencies described, please discuss the Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer options with may be available to you with your Course Coordinator. For more information go to:
Please read the following thoroughly by clicking the links:
Special consideration
Use the special consideration process if your circumstances are such that you cannot fulfil assessment requirements. For example, if you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by a due date.
Assessment attempts:
- You are permitted 2 attempts on written and practical assessments.
- Resubmissions are not automatic and will only be approved at the discretion of the Program Coordinator, after consultation with the teacher. Attendance and course engagement will be taken into consideration when deciding.
- For written assessments, if you answer less than 50% of the questions in each part during your first attempt, you will not be granted a second attempt.
- All resubmissions must be completed and submitted no more than 7 days after your work has been assessed.
Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer
If you think you have some or all of the knowledge and competencies described, please discuss the Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer options with may be available to you with your Course Coordinator. For more information go to:
Please read the following thoroughly by clicking the links:
Special consideration
Use the special consideration process if your circumstances are such that you cannot fulfil assessment requirements. For example, if you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by a due date.
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