Overview
This course equips nurses with beginner-level knowledge of palliative and end-of-life care in a variety of healthcare contexts for real-world application. The primary treatment goal for patients with little or no prospect of recovery is to uphold their dignity, communicate with empathy, and optimise their quality of life. Participants will acquire advanced knowledge of the assessment and management of physical and psychosocial symptoms to provide patients who have life-limiting illness and their families with holistic, patient-centred care and support. Developing this knowledge, along with highly advanced interpersonal skills, is essential for nurses caring for patients with a life-limiting illness. Participants will also examine the role and function of a palliative care nurse as part of a multidisciplinary team and as an autonomous practitioner.

Evolve with QUTeX
This course gives nurses the skills to care for adults who require palliative care in their place of choice as they progress through a life-limiting illness. Participants will be guided through principles and practical knowledge to optimise quality of life for patients with a life-limiting illness, focusing on sensitively upholding the dignity of the patient and communicating with empathy, honesty, and compassion.
Who should participate?
This course is aimed at registered and clinical nurses, clinical nurse consultants, and nurse managers who care for adults with life-limiting illness in any healthcare sector. Learners are advised to have at least 3 months experience caring for people with life limiting conditions.

Your expert facilitator John Haberecht
John Haberecht has worked in palliative care for over 25 years, with experience in community palliative care, acute hospital consultation liaison, and co-development and teaching of Australian Catholic University’s Graduate Diploma of Palliative Care.
With a Master of Education focusing on online learning, John has a particular interest in innovative ways of teaching and learning. John has a passionate belief in quality palliative care and excellent pain and other symptom management being basic human rights. He sees education of nurses and other health professionals through this unit and the Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education (CPCRE) and PEPA (Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach) as being small steps towards those goals. He is also able to pursue these goals in his current role as President of Palliative Care Queensland.
Core concepts
Participants will learn to;
- Apply palliative-care principles to the assessment, planning, and management of personalised care of a person and family requiring palliative care;
- Critically analyse, evaluate and apply ethical, evidence-based decision-making in caring for clients with life-limiting conditions and their family;
- Critically evaluate the effectiveness of palliative care interventions and their impact on outcomes for the patient and family; and
- Explore collaboration and communication strategies to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships for persons with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Details
Where and when
Monday 26 July - Friday 29 October 2021
Please allow approximately 10 hours per week to complete this course.
A course outline, study guide and readings will be provided online via the QUT Blackboard site. There is no requirement to attend the university throughout the duration of the course. You will need reliable internet access to complete the course.
Certification
You will receive a QUT-endorsed certificate of completion upon successful completion of the modules and assessments.
If you successfully complete the modules and assessment and are accepted into the Graduate Certificate in Nursing, you can apply for credit (advanced standing) for one elective unit worth 12 credit points.
Cost
Registration type | Cost |
---|---|
Early Bird registration (closes 28 June 2021) | $1,215 (GST exclusive) |
Standard registration (closes 19 July 2021) | $1,350 (GST exclusive) |
QUT Alumni registration | $1,012.50 (GST exclusive) |
Group registration* (5 or more) | $1,215 (GST exclusive) per person |
*For group registrations, please contact QUTeX for further instructions.
Fees include access to online learning materials and Blackboard (QUT's interactive learning tool).
You will also need to purchase the set textbook for the course: O'Connor, M., Lee, S., Aranda, S. (Eds.). Palliative care nursing: A guide to practice (3rd ed.). North Melbourne: Ausmed Publications.