Specialist Diploma in Palliative Care Nursing

Offered by School of Health Sciences

Post-Diploma / 9 months / TGS-2021002429

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Note: Jointly offered and conducted by School of Health Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, National Cancer Centre, and Dover Park Hospice. To receive an alert about the future runs for this course, please click on the INDICATE INTEREST button. Thank you.
Course Information
Learning Outcomes
Course Schedule
Lesson Plan
Certification
Entry Requirements
Course Fees
Indicate Interest
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Course Information

As patients face serious or life-limiting illnesses, nurses spend more time with them and their families than any other health professional. As an expert nurse in palliative care, your role ensures that the patient’s unique needs are met with compassion, dignity and quality care.

This course is developed jointly with Dover Park Hospice and National Cancer Centre.

Learning Outcomes

You will be equipped with clinical knowledge and skills in palliative care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, in particular cancer, including how to handle emergencies encountered in oncology.

You will learn all about common cancers in Singapore, including biology, screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of symptoms, and patient care.

Course 
Schedule

Wednesday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Course structure schedule information:

  • Classes: Wed & Sat, 8am – 5pm
  • Clinical consolidation: A block of 2 weeks at assigned clinical areas for clinical consolidation (Mon – Fri, according to duty roster)

Course Start Date of PDC 1: 12 Apr 2023 (Wed & Sat, 8am – 5pm)
Course End Date of PDC 1: 19 Aug 2023 (Wed & Sat, 8am – 5pm)

Course Start Date of PDC 2: 30 Aug 2023 (Wed & Sat, 8am – 5pm)
Course End Date of PDC 2: 19 Jan 2024 (Wed & Sat, 8am – 5pm)

Application Period: TBC
Application Outcome: One month after application closes
Duration: 9 months
Delivery Mode: Face-to-face lessons and Home-based Learning and clinical placements

Full-time during clinical consolidation at assigned clinical areas: Block of 2 weeks for each student in one of the following groups.

Schedule for Apr 2023 intake:

  • (a) Group 1: 11 Dec – 22 Dec 2023 (Mon – Fri, according to duty roster)
  • (b) Group 2: 8 Jan – 19 Jan 2024 (Mon – Fri, according to duty roster)

Ngee Ann Polytechnic reserves the right to reschedule/cancel any programme, modify the fees and amend information without prior notice.

Lesson Plan

Post-Diploma Certificate in Essential Clinical Knowledge in Palliative Care (For Nurses and Allied Healthcare Professionals) (TGS-2021002430)
Module
Common Cancers
Introduces a broad overview of cancer biology, screening, diagnosis, treatment and clinical trials.
Module
Pain and Symptom Management
Covers the pathophysiology, assessment and management of common symptoms in life-limiting illnesses, in particular cancer.
Module
Palliative Care in Non-Cancer Illnesses
Covers the role of palliative care in life-limiting non-malignant illnesses, in particular end-stage organ failure.
Module
Communication and Psychosocial Skills
Focuses on psychosocial intervention issues and strategies applicable to the oncology and palliative care nurse.
Post-Diploma Certificate in Essential Clinical Skills in Palliative Care (for Nurses only) (TGS-2021002431)
Module
History Taking and Physical Assessment
You will learn about history taking and physical assessment of patients and how to analyse and state the clinical implications of abnormal routine lab results.
Module
Emergencies in Oncology / Palliative Care
You will be taught what to do in oncology emergencies, and gain an appreciation of common treatment-related cancer symptoms and their management.
Module
Clinical Nursing Skills and Complementary
You will refine your nursing skills and enhance your knowledge in caring for terminally ill patients, including an appreciation of common complementary therapies.
Module
Clinical Consolidation
You will develop therapeutic communication and counselling skills towards oncology and palliative client.

Certification

1 Specialist Diploma
2 Post-Diploma Certificates
8 Modules

Certification

You are required to complete 2 post-diploma certificates within 2-year validity period to be awarded the Specialist Diploma qualification.


Entry Requirements

Applicants with any of the following qualifications are invited to apply for the course:

  • A local Polytechnic Diploma/ Degree in Health Sciences (Nursing) or equivalent

  • Be a Registered Nurse with valid practicing certificate from the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB)

  • Preference will be given to applicants working with patients at the end of life or palliative care settings

Successful applicants will need to undergo a compulsory medical examination and vaccinations before semester starts. Please see details and refer to instructions in the medical examination form (Click here for medical examination form) for submission of all the required documents.

Course Fees

Funding period for this course is from 1 Apr 2021 to 30 Sep 2024.

Note:

  • The fees below are per semester. For full course fees throughout the semesters, refer here.
  • The fees below are inclusive of GST. Please note that the GST rate will be revised to 8% with effect from 1 Jan 2023, as such any payable course fees will be subjected to the new GST rate adjustments in 2023. Please refer to our FAQs for more information.
  • The fees below are determined based on prevailing funding policies and subject to review and revision.

SkillsFuture Credit
This course is eligible for SkillsFuture Credit.

All Singaporeans aged 25 years and above can use their $500 SkillsFuture Credit from the government to pay f​or a wide range of courses. The credits can be used on top of existing course fee subsidies/funding. This is only applicable for self-sponsored applicants and must be applied via the SkillsFuture Portal. More details on the SkillsFuture Credit Claims will be advised upon admission into the course. Find out more about SkillsFuture Credit here.

Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP)
NTUC members enjoy 50% unfunded course fee support for up to $250 each year (or up to $500 for NTUC members aged 40 years old and above) when you sign up for courses supported under UTAP (Union Training Assistance Programme). Please visit e2i’s website to find out more.

Skills-Based Modular Courses (SBMCs) are bite-sized part-time courses for individuals to acquire new skills or deepen relevant skills, without the need to pursue a full diploma.  Refer here for course fees for SBMCs.

Applicants / Eligibility Fees
Singapore Citizens aged below 40 $405.32
Singapore Citizens aged 40 & above$270.22
Singapore Citizens sponsored by SME$279.05
Singapore PRs $1106.78
Singapore PRs sponsored by SME$286.94
Full course fee for SC (for repeat, deferred modules)$2702.18
Full course fee (for repeat, deferred modules)$2766.96