Communication in palliative care: philosophy, teaching approaches, and evaluation of an educational program for...

In this article is presented a post-graduate program in palliative care nursing focusing communication. The teaching plan was inspired by action learning, and the students' discovery processes necessitated a variety of teaching methods. The program was based on a holistic view of the human being and of inter-human communication. Neuro-motoric stimulation exercises were used to improve the students' focus of attention, sensory reception, and awareness of their corporeal and intellectual selves. Stimulation of relational skills, the discussion of ethical and difficult questions, and narratives helped students discover relationships between theoretical knowledge and palliative practice, and were used to explain and illustrate topics, and as backgrounds for discussions. During the program the students examined, challenged, and continuously reflected upon their explicit and unconscious praxis theories and their communicative habits. Although very different from educational programs they previously had experienced, this teaching/learning plan and the outcome thereof was positively evaluated. At the end of the year the students found themselves to be more knowledgeable, discerning and self-confident nurses. Even so, some found that they needed more time to digest what they had learned and for new knowledge and philosophies to become internalised.