The Master's Degree in Palliative Care will be taught at the School of Nursing of the University of Navarra. PHOTO: Manuel Castells

Currently in Spain there is a need for about 3,000 nursing professionals specialized in the care of terminally ill patients. For this reason, the University of Navarra and the Hospital Centro de Cuidados Laguna (Madrid) have created the first Master's Degree in Palliative Care Nursing.

The postgraduate program -the only one of its kind in Spain specialization program- consists of 60 credits ECTS credit divided into five modules on Nursing Science and advanced role, research in Nursing, palliative care, clinical practice and a final work of Master's Degree.

According to its director, Dr. María Arantzamendi -professor of the department of Nursing Care for Adult Patients of the School of Nursing- the postgraduate program "will combine the advanced training in the field of Palliative Care with the training at research. Both are pillars core topic to improve the quality of care for terminally ill patients and their families." In addition, it indicates that training at research is a novel area that will allow the development of actions based on results, promoting the advancement of science.

Likewise, the expert adds that the World Health Organization "considers it a right of citizens to receive palliative care and to include this care subject as a fundamental element of national health systems". "The future law on palliative care is heading in this direction. That is why we foresee that there will be a growing demand for nurses specialized in this field by healthcare centers," the specialist stresses.

125,000 patients ask for pain control
In this regard, Dr. Javier Rocafort Gil, director care of the Hospital Centro de Cuidados Laguna, recalls that in Spain "about 125,000 patients annually demand specialized care to control pain and the specific symptoms of diseases in advanced stages". As he states, 40% of the care activity involved in caring for these patients "is carried out by nursing professionals, according to data of the latest report of the Spanish Society of Palliative Care. Hence the importance of launching a postgraduate program like this one".

On the other hand, Encarnación Pérez Bret, coordinator of Master's Degree, emphasizes that postgraduate program is specifically aimed at nursing professionals. "Likewise, another of the skills that we will develop is the approach to difficult questions from patients and family members. Not with magic recipes, since there are none, but with tools that will allow us to deal with these issues with the patient so that he/she can find the answers.

This Master's Degree - which is pending of accreditation by the National Agency for Assessment of Quality and Accreditation- is added to the academic programs of the School of Nursing of the University of Navarra, which also teaches the Master's Degree in research and Advanced Role in Nursing.

The Hospital Centro de Cuidados Laguna is the first center dedicated entirely to the care of the elderly. It currently offers a Hospital Admission Unit for advanced patients, Home Care Teams to monitor and care for patients in their own homes, and an Outpatient Service. Every year, it attends nearly half a thousand patients and families.