Javier Rocafort and María Arantzamendi PHOTO:

According to Dr. Javier Rocafort Gil, director at the Hospital Centro de Cuidados Laguna and Deputy Director of the Master's Degree in Palliative Care Nursing at the University of Navarra, more than 125,000 patients demand specific palliative care in Spain. A figure that makes it necessary to double the number of nurses specialized in this field issue . This was confirmed by the expert on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, which is celebrated this Saturday, February 11.

In total, Javier Rocafort estimates that 2,900 nurses would be needed with this training, "since the number of specialized units would have to increase from 372 to 752, and Spain does not have enough palliative care professionals to cover them".

For this reason, both centers have launched a specific postgraduate program which this year will celebrate its second edition. It focuses on the scientific, theoretical and practical approach to the care required by patients in advanced stages, and their families, to control pain and alleviate the specific symptoms in each case.

Encarnación Pérez Bret, scientific coordinator of Master's Degree, stresses that more than 40% of the care activity in palliative care corresponds to Nursing: "That is why the specific training and training of these professionals is essential, focused on the clinical internship ". She also points out the role of the evaluation or assessment of the side effects of drugs as examples of fundamental areas carried out by Nursing and which are crucial to provide the best care to patients.

Research for the patient
For her part, María Arantzamendi, professor at the School of Nursing and director of the Master's Degree in Palliative Care Nursing, highlights that one of the novelties of this specialization program is its orientation to the field researcher, which will make it possible to develop actions based on results. In addition, she adds that the progress of this specialization program "must include development policies, the provision of quality care at different levels by the healthcare system, and the specific Education and training for professionals".

Special information session

Next Wednesday, February 15, an online information session will be held for all those interested in studying the official Master's Degree during the 2012-13 academic year. This presentation will be held at 4 p.m. at www.unav.es/sesiononline. In order to access the session it will be necessary to enter your name and e-mail address. More information can be found at masters@unav.es.