POLST: A Guide to Advance Care Planning

Course Code: REL-ALL-0-POLGACP

Hours: 0.5

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2028

Learning Objectives:
Recall the purpose of advance directives and POLST programs and the components of the POLST form.
Identify three ways to facilitate goals-of-care discussions and how POLST can help honor individuals’ choices.

Outline:
Section 1: National POLST

Advance Directives: Foundations of Advance Care Planning

Why It Matters

Key Terms

Patient Self-Determination Act

Limits of Advance Directives

Why POLST Was Developed

Who Would Benefit From POLST?

Understanding the POLST Form

Section A: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Section B: Goals of Care and Medical Treatments

Section C: Additional Orders or Instructions

Section D: Medically Assisted Nutrition

Signatures

Changing or Voiding a POLST Form

Review

Key Takeaways

Section 2: POLST Implementation

Benefits and Barriers

Challenges in Implementation

Equity and Disparities

Facilitating Goals-of-Care Discussions

Prepare

Check Understanding and Share Medical Context

Explore Values, Goals, and Treatment Options

Conversation Framework

Prepare

Check Understanding

Provide Information

Discuss Goals and Concerns

Summarize and Plan

How POLST Supports These Conversations

Review

Key Takeaways

Section 3: Conclusion

Course Summary

Course Contributor

Resources

References

 

Subject Matter Expert: Susan Heinzerling, BSN, RN, CHPN

Susan Heinzerling earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as a Master of Life Sciences in physiology from North Carolina State University. She became a doctoral candidate in immunology at the University of South Alabama. Her research experiences in the biomedical sciences led to an interest in evidence-based practices. Ms. Heinzerling began her nursing career as a medical/surgical nurse. Patients in acute care with multiple chronic conditions and repeated hospitalizations inspired her practice of hospice nursing. She has worked as a hospice admissions nurse and a hospice RN case manager in both a large urban setting and a rural community.

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Advanced Practice Nurses; Medical Providers; Nursing Personnel; in the following settings: All Healthcare Facilities.

Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.

Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.

All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.

To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.