ELNEC Core Training at BMCHRC, Jaipur

ELNEC Core Training at BMCHRC, Jaipur

– Mr. Ramswaroop Garwa and Mr. Arvind Sharma, Jodhpur

The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) project is a national and international education initiative to improve palliative care. Since 2000, ELNEC is a collaboration between the City of Hope, Duarte, CA and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Washington, DC. The project, administered by City of Hope, provides undergraduate and graduate nursing faculty, staff development educators, specialty nurses in pediatrics, oncology, critical care and geriatrics, and other nurses with training in palliative care so they can teach this essential information to nursing students, practicing nurses and other healthcare professionals.

ELNEC India develops nationally recognized palliative care educational modules for nurses so they can teach this essential information to nurses. ELNEC courses are therefore designed to improve the quality of palliative care and are presented by nationally recognized experts.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Center (BMCHRC) joined hands with the End-of-Life Care Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) India, and successfully conducted the ELNEC course for three days between 21^st and 23^rd December 2021.

The course aimed to teach nurses the pre set curriculum of ELNEC and was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Anjum Khan Joad (Anesthesiologist, Director Pain & Palliative unit, BMCHRC, Jaipur), and with the grateful support of Major Gen Dr. S C Pareek (Executive Director, BMCHRC, Jaipur), Dr. Subah Pathania (Medical Superintendent, BMRCHRC, Jaipur) and Dr. Pushplata Gupta, (HOD, Department of Anesthesia, BMCHRC, Jaipur)

A total of 57 participants included nursing superintendents, clinical nurses, in-charge nurses, nursing students, nurse educators, social workers, a physician from Gujarat, a retired nurse from SMS Hospital Jaipur, nurse and social worker volunteers from different hospitals in Jaipur and two nurses from Pune. The participants were enthusiastic, caring and self motivated individuals who learnt a lot about end of life nursing care during the three day interactive sessions.

Well-known and eminent National Nursing Faculty including Sr. Hanife MacGamwell initiated the ELNEC course in India. Sr. Hanife MacGamwell is a well known oncology Hospice / Palliative Care Nurse Specialist who has worked in clinics across the world and has been working in India for over 25 years with children, adults and their families. Mr. Arvind Kumar, Nursing Officer, AIIMS Jodhpur, Mr Ramswaroop Garwa Nursing Officer, AIIMS Jodhpur and Mr. Sudip Rudra Paul, Cipla Palliative Care, Pune, highlighted the concepts of End of Life Nursing Care and it’s vital role in interdisciplinary teams. They also shared information about improving End of Life Care for patients across settings, in addition to enhancing the family members’ experience of witnessing the dying process of their loved ones.

All participants were actively involved in the series of activities of the ELNEC course which included role plays, Nurse-Patient therapeutic communication, breaking bad news, assessment of pain control, how to do fungating wound dressing along with other symptom management, how to conduct bereavement visits after a death and ways to deliver affordable home care in poor settings.

The participants expressed their appreciation for this opportunity and described the course as commendable and excellent.

The three day training concluded with certificates being distributed and with a cake cutting celebration. Several participants expressed interest to become trainers. Activities will pursue beyond this training session towards advancing palliative care and by continuing the strengthening of nurses in palliative care across Rajasthan.