End of Life Care is organized by AchieveCE. This course has been approved for a maximum of 3.0 Contact Hours.

Target Audience:
• Nursing
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Activity overview:
This article walks the reader through the process of caring for a dying person step-by-step, discussing the importance of patient comfort at the end of life, as well as the different methods that may be used to provide this comfort.

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:
• Understand the specific comfort needs an individual has near the end of life, as well as the strategies and methods that can be used to meet each of those needs
• Know the difference between the various end of life care options available to patients, as well as their intended purposes.
• Make an informed decision about end of life care based on practical issues, as well as the wishes of the individual in question
• Define Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and recognize how these illnesses will change the end-of-life experience for the dying person and his or her loved ones.
• Understand the different approaches that can be used to make healthcare decisions on behalf of a dying loved one.
• Be aware of the different issues that may arise when making important healthcare decisions, as well as how each of these issues can be handled.
• Know what to expect when someone dies, as well as how to recognize the signs that death is near.
• Know what to expect during the grieving process and name strategies that can be used to deal with grief.
• Be aware of the different tools available for end-of-life planning and be prepared to have conversations about end-of-life planning with the individual nearing death.