Nurses in rural areas often feel inadequately prepared to assist patients
Rural nurses face vast challenges in delivering palliative care in remote areas. So UBC’s Okanagan campus and Selkirk College are combining forces to provide specialized education for nurses in remote areas of the Kootenays.
UBC and Selkirk are hosting a two-day workshop on Wednesday and Thursday, October 24 and 25. The workshop is part of the Enhancing Educational Capacity for a Palliative Approach in Rural Nursing at Selkirk College’s Castlegar campus to better prepare rural nurses in palliative care.
Rural nurses have practice challenges when it comes to delivering specialized care in isolated settings where there are limited resources, says Barb Pesut, Canada Research Chair in Health, Ethics and Diversity and an associate professor of nursing at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
“Many are generalists and feel inadequately prepared when difficult pain management or complicated family issues arise in end-of-life care,” says Pesut.
Pesut’s research focuses on palliative care in rural areas. Findings show that an initiative of this nature is highly relevant to rural nurses.
“It will facilitate their competency in providing a palliative approach to care, which is much more sustainable in rural areas than highly specialized models of care,” she says.
The workshop is designed to better understand the unique issues of rural care and is open to nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licenced practical nurses and care aides, particularly in the Trail, Castlegar, and Nelson regions.
“This educational initiative is unique in that nurses and nursing-care providers will be educated together about how to provide high-quality are to citizens in rural settings,” says Pesut.
In addition to receiving up-to-date knowledge from highly qualified palliative educators, the interactive format allows them to exchange knowledge about their various roles and practice contexts that will contribute to enhancing knowledge about a team-based approach to care, says Pesut.
“As participants in a research project, these individuals will also learn more about the research process and will take part in a community of practice that will allow them to discuss how they are applying and building upon the knowledge that they have gained.”
Gail Potter, a nursing instructor from Selkirk College, will facilitate the workshops.
“If you are a nurse or nursing-care provider who has a desire to see improved palliative care in your workplace and can make the time commitment, you are eligible to attend,” says Potter.
“This partnership between Selkirk and UBC is an excellent example of connecting with rural partners and building capacity at both institutions,” says Pesut.
The workshops involve a two-day commitment and follow-up discussions. An honorarium will be provided to participants. Registration information: Barb Pesut, Tel. 250-807-9955, email barb.pesut@ubc.ca ; or Gail Potter, Tel. 250-365-1340, email: http://selkirk.ca/discover/staff/contact/?staff=10883
The Enhancing Educational Capacity for a Palliative Approach in Rural Nursing project is supported by a BC Nursing Research Initiative funded by the Michael Smith Foundation.
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