End of Life Care: Ethical Dilemmas and Considerations (NA2355)
Author(s): Patsy Barnes, RN, BA
Pre-Approved for: ACM, CA BRN, CCLCP, CCM, CDMS, CE Broker Provider, CLCP, COHN/COHN-S, CRCC, CVE, CVRP, Delaware BON, FCB, MSCC, RNs, VRA-Canada
Credit Hours: 8
CCM Credit Hours: 6
CDMS Credit Hours: 6
Course Format
This course is online. All course material is available online and is accessible immediately after purchase from your account homepage. Certificate of Completion is available immediately upon passing the exam.
Course Overview
In 2015, the IOM released a study titled “Dying in America”. Since that time, we have had several large-scale events shaping end of life in America - a global pandemic, the opioid epidemic, and a fentanyl overdose epidemic. It’s hard to truly grasp the impact this has on end-of-life care and considerations. In this course, we explore end of life and how the events of the last 5-plus years have impacted healthcare broadly.
We will also ask the question - what has changed and what has not? It’s important to remember that death is not merely a physical action, but a cultural and religious action – these considerations will be discussed. There are three common types of end-of-life care in the United States: acute, palliative, and hospice. We will also touch on a recent 4th choice, physician-assisted suicide.
Death certainly presents healthcare professionals with a series of ethical dilemmas and the codes of all professions address the ethical concerns surrounding death. The principles of autonomy, beneficence, maleficence, and justice will all be included in this course. In each segment, the Codes of Conduct for RN, CRC, CCM, CDMS, and addiction counselors will be presented.
Course Objectives
- Explain how culture influences death and dying and what the codes say about culture.
- Explain how religion/spirituality influences death and dying and the codes in relationship.
- Present a picture of what dying in America looks like and the attitude toward death.
- Discuss the various forms of care at the end of life and the ethical principles involved.
- Discuss physician-assisted suicide and its ethical concerns.
- Identify what patients and families can do to plan for their death.
Course Outline
- Culture and Death
- Religion and Death
- Dying in America
- Types of Care at End of Life
- Physician-assisted Suicide
- End of Life Planning