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Modules:

  • Introduction
  • 1. Advance Care Planning
  • 2. Communicating Bad News
  • 3. Whole Patient Assessment
  • 4. Pain Management
  • 5. Assisted Suicide Debate
  • 6. Anxiety, Delirium
  • 7. Goals of Care
  • 8. Sudden Illness
  • 9. Medical Futility
  • 10. Common Symptoms
  • 11. Withholding Treatment
  • 12. Last Hours of Living
  • 13. Cultural Issues
  • 14. Religion, Spirituality
  • 15. Legal Issues
  • 16. Social and Psychological

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    Back to Module 12: Last Hours of Living
    Introduction to Last Hours of Living

    Overview of this Module
    Objectives of this Module

    Overview of this Module

    • The last hours of living are important not only for the comfort of the patient, but for all who are bereaved by, or simply witness, the death
    • Normal death is explained in this module, as are the key tasks that need to be accomplished
      • Before death occurs
      • At the time of death
      • After the death
    • Management of the patient’s distress is critical, particularly issues associated with:
      • Feeding and hydration
      • Changes in consciousness
      • Delirium
      • Pain
      • Breathlessness
      • Secretions
    • Preparation and education of the family are important
    • Normal grief and bereavement are discussed as well as complicated grief

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    Objectives of this Module

    The objectives of this module are to:

    • Prepare and support the patient, family, and caregivers
    • Assess and manage the pathophysiological changes of dying
    • Identify and manage initial grief reactions
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