Palliative Care Nursing

allnurses Guide · Feb 16, 2010

It would be much more beneficial to complete BN then do further training (grad cert, grad dip, masters) if you like palliative. Work in that area first to see if you like it - rewarding work, but can be tough.

SmithH75 · Feb 17, 2010

Hello,

Have you ever worked in palliative areas? You could volunteer for a short time first. I had a grand idea I wanted to be an orthopedic nurse - throughout my training I got to like bones less and less! I worked in Chemotherapy for a short time and loved it - cancer nursing is where my heart is. Strange because now I am back in A&E! For me, having a dream and goal keeps me going. Good luck with your studies. :)

sassy_squirrel · Feb 17, 2010

Thanks for your replies!

I do have a few different areas I would like to look into (Emergency, Mental Health or Oncology) and I could find information on specialising for Emergency and Mental Health (the uni I'm applying for has them as specialty studies your final year).

I will look into doing Volunteer work or something similar in Palliative care.

Thanks again. :)

K+MgSO4, BSN · Feb 17, 2010

First I would advise you to go for your RN as jobs in specialities often look for RNs rather than EENs. What state are you in? Do you have the chance of doing a grad year after you finish your studies?? You can ask for a pal care placement for one of your placements for that year. After that if you get a job working in pall care you could do a graduate certificate or masters but you may need a yr of experience or a job in the area before you can apply for the course. Get through your RN studies first because you may fall in love with another area in the next 3 yrs that you haven't experienced yet. Best of luck with everything.

JanisM · Apr 29, 2010

Hi sassy,

I'm a 2nd year student & have looked into this as I want to work in palliative care, too. There is a 6 month course available (not sure of the official title, sorry) for RNs. Unfortunately they don't offer it at my uni, but I know the major ones do. Hope this helps, and good luck with your studies!

talaxandra · May 2, 2010

As you've already got a Bachelor's degree you may be eligible to study nursing as a post-graduate and complete in two years instead of three. most of these programs result in a BN but some are Master's courses. Though this doesn't help you with the palliative care issue, it gives you an extra year of post-registration experience in the same time period. though most of the new grads I've worked with who have other degrees have gone the three year route, two studied as graduate entrants through Melbourne's Master's program and were excellent clinicians.

sassy_squirrel · May 5, 2010

As you've already got a Bachelor's degree you may be eligible to study nursing as a post-graduate and complete in two years instead of three. most of these programs result in a BN but some are Master's courses. Though this doesn't help you with the palliative care issue, it gives you an extra year of post-registration experience in the same time period. though most of the new grads I've worked with who have other degrees have gone the three year route, two studied as graduate entrants through Melbourne's Master's program and were excellent clinicians.

Wow thanks for that! I didn't know about them!

jadelee · May 7, 2010

I am doing post grad pall care at the moment, externally. Lot's of Australia uni offer post grad pall care. (cert level to masters). You can then keep working and study. But I would get a few years experience before specialising. But pall care is an amazing area of nursing to work in.

sassy_squirrel · May 27, 2010

Thanks for all your replies. They have all been amazingly helpful. I'm looking into applying to start in 2011 at Tasmania University as I'll be moving there (from NT) later this year. I'm a little nervous but I really want to help people. My grandmother passed away last year and I have a close family friend who is going through heavy chemo at the moment hence why I was looking into Palliative Care and Oncology, but I am also really interested in ED. Anyway I just wanted to say thank you to all the responses and support.