Information Package / Course Catalogue
Palliative Care
Course Code: HF271
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 0
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 4
Objectives of the Course

The aim of this course is to discuss the concepts of crisis, death, loss, mourning process, ensuring the comfort of the patient whose death is approaching, supporting the individual and the family in the terminal period and maintaining the quality of life, hospice services and other organizations, palliative care team, their roles and functions.

Course Content

During the palliative care process, control of the primary disease, evaluation of physical symptoms, diagnosis of spiritual, social, economic and end-of-life needs of the patient and their family requiring palliative care, the care process, and effective coping with the mourning period.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Describe concepts, principles and services related to palliative care
2.Knows the roles of the team in palliative care
3.Can assess pain and other common symptoms
4.Understands ethical and legal issues in palliative care
5.Can determine the needs of the individual and his/her family according to the concept of quality of life
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Can G, Aydıner A (Editörler). Akciğer Kanserinde Palyatif Bakım. Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri, İstanbul, 2015
2.Cimete G., Ölümcül Hastalarda Yaşam sonu Bakım, Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri, Ankara 2002 Özçelik H, Fadıloğlu Ç, Uyar M, Karabulut B. Kanser Hastaları ve Aileleri için Palyatif Bakım, İzmir, 2010.
3.Güç ZG, Yavuzşen T. Palyatif bakım nedir, ne değildir? Tanımı, amacı ve felsefesi. Çay Şenler F, editör. Onkolojide Palyatif Bakım. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2020. p.1-4.
4.Yıldırım Y(2015). Palyatif Bakım Çalışmaları ve Hemşireliğe Yansımaları. Turkiye Klinikleri J Intern Med Nurs-Special Topics 1(2):31-9
5.Ulusal Palyatif Bakım Derneği, http://www.palyatifbakim.org/
6.Palyatif Bakım Hemşireleri Derneği: https://www.palhemder.org/
7.Uluslararası International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care IAHPC (www.hospicecare.com)
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Definition and philosophy of palliative care, Multidisciplinary approach in palliative care,
Week 2 - Theoretical
Roles of nurses in palliative care, Hospice and End of Life Care,
Week 3 - Theoretical
Assessing the quality of life of the individual in need of palliative care and determining the care needs
Week 4 - Theoretical
Communication with the patient and family in palliative care, cultural beliefs (team, patient, family), cultural evaluation, spiritual evaluation
Week 5 - Theoretical
Pediatric palliative care and approach to the family
Week 6 - Theoretical
Palliative Care Services: Current situation in our country
Week 7 - Theoretical
Pain Management, pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods in pain control
Week 8 - Theoretical
Management of Common Symptoms: Respiratory symptoms (Dyspnea and cough) (MIDTERM EXAM)
Week 9 - Theoretical
Management of GI Symptoms (Anorexia/Cachexia, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting) and maintenance of nutrition
Week 10 - Theoretical
Management of psychosocial symptoms (Depression, Anxiety, Delirium, Agitation/Confusion)
Week 11 - Theoretical
Impending Death Signs and Nursing Interventions
Week 12 - Theoretical
Concepts of grief, loss and deprivation, Types of grief, evaluation of grief, Loss, mourning process and nursing care
Week 13 - Theoretical
Ethical problems encountered in palliative care (situations related to decision making and communication),
Week 14 - Theoretical
Ethical problems encountered in palliative care (Termination of treatment; Useless treatment; Euthanasia, Not performing resuscitation ).
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142256
Midterm Examination115116
Final Examination125227
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)99
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes