“It was just incredible to have the domains and competencies outlined in the Competency Framework. Prior to the framework, I had to rely solely on my experiences as an educator and a hospice palliative care nurse. Now the competencies help provide assurance that what we are teaching and what students are learning is consistent across the country.”
Kath Murray, Chief Executive Officer
LIFE AND DEATH MATTERS
“It was just incredible to have the domains and competencies outlined in the Competency Framework. Prior to the framework, I had to rely solely on my experiences as an educator and a hospice palliative care nurse. Now the competencies help provide assurance that what we are teaching and what students are learning is consistent across the country.”
Kath Murray, Chief Executive Officer
LIFE AND DEATH MATTERS
A Journey Toward Standardizing Palliative Care Using the Competency Framework
Life and Death Matters is working to bridge the gap in the delivery of palliative care through the creation and implementation of educational resources. They offer educational materials and courses primarily focused on personal support workers (PSWs) and nurses administering the best possible end-of-life care. These materials and courses use the Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework (Competency Framework) as a tool to better equip students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to ensure they can deliver exceptional palliative care to patients during their final days.
The Competency Framework is an incredible tool for educators as it helps deliver a clear, standardized core curriculum for the palliative care field across Canada. The content included in the Competency Framework provides students with the ability to develop not only the hard skills required to deliver palliative care, but also the soft skills that are equally as important. Using the Competency Framework when developing resources and learning materials helps reassure students that they will have the resources they need to excel in their education. In addition, they will be properly equipped to provide palliative care once they enter the field.
To improve the overall level of palliative care in Canada, Life and Death Matters hopes to one day see standardized educational materials and resources for the entire palliative care field. Life and Death Matters will continue to use the Competency Framework to push for standardized education of PSWs across Canada.
Collaborating with the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, Life and Death Matters developed the PACE for PSWs program. This program uses the Competency Framework to ensure standardization. It consists of ten online courses that focus on improving students’ skills and caregiving abilities. After completing the program, students receive a certificate in palliative care and can confidently enter the workforce knowing they are equipped with the necessary tools to excel. One of the goals of this program is to help alleviate the stress and anxiety incoming students face when providing care for those who are dying. When PSWs are confident about their skills, the care they provide to families and patients will also improve.
To improve the overall level of palliative care in Canada, Life and Death Matters hopes to one day see standardized educational materials and resources for the entire palliative care field. Life and Death Matters will continue to use the Competency Framework to push for standardized education of PSWs across Canada.
“It is our hope and goal to improve care for people with life-limiting illnesses across Canada and do that through education. With the help of the Competency Framework, we are working to improve the education of incoming personal support workers and nurses, giving them the confidence to provide better support for patients and their families.”
Ann-Marie Gilbert
Chief Technology Officer
LIFE AND DEATH MATTERS
Founded in 2005, Life and Death Matters’ mission is to improve care for the dying through the delivery of comprehensive palliative resources, training and support for healthcare workers and individuals.
This project has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.
This post is also available in: French
Established in 1990, the Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is a national non-profit membership association dedicated to advancing excellence in home and community care.
General Inquiries: chca@cdnhomecare.ca
Membership Inquiries: membership@cdnhomecare.ca
This post is also available in: French
