“POLARIS is an excellent teaching tool for understanding hospice and palliative care. I thoroughly enjoyed working through each module and I feel better equipped to begin my career as a hospice nurse. It helped to answer many of my questions about hospice care.”
Palliative Care RN Basics, formerly POLARIS RN, is a state-of-the-art eLearning resource consisting of 12 modules designed to provide essential practice knowledge for clinicians working with hospice and palliative care patients. HPNA is pleased to present this robust educational offering to equip nurses to do what they do best – provide compassionate care.
Palliative Care RN Basics is essential for individuals within their first 1-3 years of nursing in hospice and palliative care. These modules may serve as a training resource for preceptors.
In 2024, Palliative Care RN Basics was reviewed and updated by subject matter experts for accuracy and relevancy. In addition, improvements were made based on feedback provided by the HPNA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee.
Palliative Care Pain Management Basics is also included with this package.
Palliative Care RN Basics eLearning modules are:
- Self-paced
- Interactive
- Beneficial to new nurses and their preceptors
- Structured with shorts bursts of information
- Engaging, with learning activities such as case studies and videos
- Available in multiple purchase options
- Eligible for NCPD hours
Note: Palliative Care Pain Management Basics is available as a separate resource consisting of four modules. Visit the Palliative Care Pain Management Basics webpage here.
Purchase Options
Individual Modules
This purchase option gives the individual user access to only the modules that interest you.
$20/module for members
$30/module for non-members
Total Package
This purchase option gives the individual user access to all 13 modules for one bundle price.
$200 for members
$300 for non-members
Module 1: Hospice and Palliative Nursing Overview
This overview provides learners with key concepts surrounding the holistic approach to hospice and palliative nursing. The module explores what it’s like to be a palliative care or hospice nurse and illustrates what it takes to be effective in delivering optimal patient and family centered nursing care.
2 NCPD hours
Module 2: Exploring the Interdisciplinary Team, Care Coordination, and Settings
This module outlines the structures and processes of palliative care delivery, including interdisciplinary team roles and responsibilities, team communication and dynamics, and how the team supports delivery of optimal care across all settings.
1.5 NCPD hours
Module 3: Facilitating Patient and Family Communication
Effective communication is vital to recognizing all aspects of a patient’s and family’s experience, including anticipatory grief and family needs. This module describes techniques to facilitate communication and gain skills necessary to hold difficult conversations, including advance care planning discussions.
2.5 NCPD hours
Module 4: Performing a Holistic Assessment for the Seriously Ill
Several topics related to pain management are covered in this module, including the effects of unrelieved pain and its impact on functional status and quality of life. Both nonpharmacological and pharmacological approaches are addressed. the module includes guidelines on the use of opioids, equianalgesic conversation guides, and other therapeutic interventions available to support optimal pain management for patients with serious illness.
2 NCPD hours
Module 5: Managing Symptoms: Cardiac and Respiratory
This module provides an overview of common symptoms that are encountered in patients who experience cardiac and respiratory issues. This module describes the etiologies, characteristics, and interventions for these conditions and introduces strategies to help improve the functional status and quality of life for patients. It includes both nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment options.
2.5 NCPD hours
Module 6: Managing Symptoms: GI, GU, and Integumentary
This module provides an overview of common symptoms encountered in patients who experience GI, GU, and integumentary issues. This module describes the etiologies, characteristics, and interventions for these conditions and introduces strategies to help improve the functional status and quality of life for patients. It includes both nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment options.
3 NCPD hours
Module 7: Managing Neurological and Psychological Symptoms
This module provides an overview of common symptoms encountered in patients who experience neurological issues and addresses common mental health challenges that are often seen with hospice and palliative care patients. This module describes the etiologies, characteristics, and interventions for these conditions and introduces strategies to help improve the functional status and quality of life for patients. It includes both nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment options.
2 NCPD hours
Module 8: Illness Progression and Urgent Syndromes Overview
This module provides insight into the expected disease trajectories and characteristics of advanced illnesses such as cancer, advanced heart failure, advanced lung disease, end-stage liver disease, advanced renal failure, and dementia. It also explores potential urgent medical syndromes near the end of life, secondary to disease progression.
3 NCPD hours
Module 9: Care of the Patient Nearing the End of Life
This module provides insight into the active dying process and the nurse’s role in caring for patients nearing the end of life. It addresses common symptoms that occur when death is nearing and shares interventions that can help ease family concerns during this critical period.
2 NCPD hours
Module 10: Exploring Ethical Issues in Palliative Care
Medical care in today’s world is quite complex; numerous advances in technology provide a wide array of potential treatment options for patients and caregivers. This module covers key ethical principles and challenges that may occur in hospice and palliative care.
2 NCPD hours
Module 11: Integrating Self-Care Strategies
Caring for those with serious illness can be difficult to cope with. This module addresses the importance of integrating self-care strategies to manage moral distress and the impact of compassion fatigue.
2 NCPD hours
Module 12: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
This module reviews the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in hospice and palliative care. It includes an exploration of social determinants of health and ways that you can advocate for equitable care for your patients and families.
1 NCPD hour
HPNA does not offer refunds. If you have any questions, reach out to the HPNA Education Department before purchasing.
Group Purchases
Group purchase options are available through the Employer Partner Program. Contact EPPartnership@hpna.org or 412-282-8206 to learn more.
Palliative Care Basics FAQs
Click the button below to view a list of common questions and answers regarding the Palliative Care Basics series.
FAQs