We aim to empower health care workers and other individuals with skills that will equip them to deliver quality Palliative care services. We truly believe that, our training and education must empower all individuals to deal with death and dying in a dignified manner as well as facilitate the provision of quality palliative care to all who live in South Africa. Our training draws upon our extensive experience in Palliative Care as well as an acute realisation that this is an evolving area of expertise and as such we must support our experience with ongoing research in the field.

Hospice Association of Wits Nursing School Programmes Offered :

Intro to Palliative Care 1-week intensive-care programme.

Costings: R2500.00

Overview of palliative care including:

Introduction to palliative care

Communication skills

Breaking bad news

Ethics genograms

Pain control

Syringe driver

Symptom control

Psychosocial and spiritual care

The dying process

Short course in Palliative Nursing

8 Month (1 day per week) Short Course in Palliative Nursing (SCPN) – accredited with the Hospice Palliative Care Association (HPCA)Costing: R6 740.00This course is a combination of theory and practice designed around:

• Professional nursing practice and palliative care.
• Basic communication skills
• Theory and practice of symptom control
• Theory and practice of psychological, social, spiritual and supportive care

Professional health care workshops

• 4 Day Introduction to Palliative Care for Auxiliary, Ancillary nurses and Health Care workers
  • Introduction to palliative care
  • Communication skills
  • Breaking bad news
  • Ethics
  • Genograms
  • Pain and symptom control
  • Psycho, social and spiritual care
  • The dying process
  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement
• 1-Week Introduction to Palliative CareAn informative 5 day course for Registered, Enrolled and Professional nurses focusing on a multi-disciplinary/holistic approach to palliation. On completion a certificate will be issued.
  • Introduction to Palliative care
  • Basic Principles of Nursing
  • Communication skills
  • Nutrition and Elimination
  • Breaking bad news
  • Basic First Aid Principles
  • Ethics
  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement
  • Genograms
  • The dying process
  • Pain and symptom control
  • Psycho, Social and spiritual care
• 2.5- Day Grief, Loss and Bereavement WorkshopA 2.5-day workshop for people with basic counselling or support skills.Course Objectives:
  • To increase knowledge and understanding of grief, loss and bereavement.
  • To develop insight into grief through the ages.
  • To learn new and creative ways of supporting the bereaved.
  • To develop new insights and skills for grief and bereavement support.
  • Enhanced self-awareness.
  Course outline:
  • New theories and models for understanding grief, loss and bereavement.
  • “The silent grief” – an overview of childhood bereavement.
  • Self-awareness and personal growth.
  • Grief support – skills, values, process, models and perspectives.
  • The way forward.
• Volunteer Counselling 5 week course5 week (8.30-15.00 hours) Care Givers CourseThe course provides the appropriate skills to:
  • Develop an understanding of the Hospice philosophy of care and become orientated to the organisation
  • Facilitate enhanced awareness of self and insight into issues evoked by patients
  • Gain insight into the losses experienced by a sick patient and their family
  • Begin conceptualising death in order to empathize with the dying patient
  • Explore personal experiences of loss and grief and develop an understanding of the theory around grief, loss and bereavement
  • Enhanced knowledge and understanding of terminal illness: physical and psychological implications
  • Learn and practice interpersonal skills
  Who should do the course?
  • Any individual who has a passion for wanting to volunteer themselves to Hospice.
  • Individuals with empathy and compassion.
  • Professionals and non-professionals who would like to expand and learn more about counselling in a palliative situation
• The Ancillary Health Care WorkerThis course will enable the Learner to be competent in the following aspects of home care. A certificate will be issued to all learners.Create a hygienic environment for the patient.Bed bathing, bed making.Mouth care, pressure part care.Basic position of the patient.Basic first aid: CPRTemperature, pulse, respiration and Blood Pressure (BP)Basic NutritionCare of the dyingHIV/AIDS and TBBasic anatomy and physiologyCommunicationPatient rightsDementia/Alzheimer’s DiseaseAssessments and tests will be written during the course 

We have only listed a few workshops, we also offer training on topics such as:

• Breaking Bad News.
• 5-Day Physical Assessment for Nurses.
• Caring for the Patient at Home.
• Effective Care Communication Skills for Registered Nurses and other Health Care workers
• Beyond Limits, “ Schools Grief and Loss Bereavement training”
• Beyond Limits, “ Corporate Organisations Grief and Loss Bereavement training”

Because we want to ensure that as many people as possible have access to quality Palliative Care when they need it, we offer bursaries to deserving applicants.”

A very critical non-negotiable part of what we are about is Volunteers

Hospice Association of Wits Nursing School Contact Details :

Houghton Tell Number:011 483 9100 

Soweto Tell Number: 011 983 7400

Email address: info@hospicewits.co.za

Website: hospicewits.co.za