Management of Common Symptoms in Palliative Care

Patients facing serious illness often experience multiple distressing symptoms that, if left unmanaged, can result in unnecessary suffering, emotional burden on families, and avoidable emergency department visits or hospitalizations. This 1-hour CME/CE course, Management of Common Symptoms in Palliative Care, provides healthcare professionals with the tools to assess and alleviate the most prevalent symptoms encountered in end-of-life care.

The course reviews common conditions such as delirium, agitation, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and dyspnea, providing both pharmacological and non-pharmacological management strategies. Participants will learn evidence-based approaches that prioritize patient comfort, quality of life, and compassionate communication. Emphasis is placed on proactive assessment methods and symptom relief that align with the goals of care for patients with serious illnesses.

This course fulfills state-mandated continuing education requirements for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care for physicians, physician assistants, and nurses in states including New York, Vermont, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Iowa, and West Virginia.

Educational Objectives

• Recognize the most common symptoms requiring intervention in palliative care, especially near the end of life.
• Utilize appropriate assessment tools and techniques to evaluate end-of-life symptoms in diverse patient populations.
• Implement both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments to manage symptoms such as nausea, dyspnea, constipation, agitation, and delirium.

Who Should Take This Course

This course is recommended for:

• Physicians and Physician Assistants in New York, Vermont, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Iowa.
• Nurses in West Virginia and New Jersey are fulfilling CE requirements in Palliative or End-of-Life Care.
• Healthcare professionals working in palliative care, hospice, geriatrics, or chronic disease management settings.
• Clinicians seeking practical strategies to improve symptom control and quality of life for seriously ill patients.

Did You Know?

• Up to 80% of patients with advanced illness experience more than one unmanaged symptom. [Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2020]
• Uncontrolled symptoms are a leading cause of unplanned ED visits in palliative care patients. [BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2019]
• Proactive symptom management reduces caregiver stress and increases patient satisfaction. [Palliative Medicine Reports, 2021]
• Dyspnea and delirium are two of the most distressing symptoms for both patients and families in end-of-life care. [NIH, 2022]
• Integrating symptom management into early palliative care has been linked to more prolonged survival and improved quality of life. [NEJM, 2010]