Hospice Association of Wits Nursing School
The Hospice Association of the Witwatersrand was started in September, 1979 by a Johannesburg couple, Stan and Sherley Henen, who first responded to a need in their community for Hospice care. Initially, care was provided by a part-time nurse from their house
HospiceWits provides care to meet the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families facing life-limiting illness. This is done with the aim of achieving the best quality of life for the patient. Our desire is to be involved with the patient from the moment they’re diagnosed, offering love, comfort and emotional support to them and their family.
We have In-patient Units in both Houghton and Diepkloof to provide constant, supervised care to patients who need it. Soweto further houses a paediatic unit for children. Emotional support and bereavement counselling is provided to patients and their families.
Bursaries are available for all courses and workshops offered at HospiceWits.The application forms are available from the CPL/Training Centre
Hospice Association of Wits Nursing School Programmes Offered :
3 Morning Course for the Carer at HomeCostings: R550.00The course is a specially designed workshop runs over 3 mornings and is focused on the practical tasks of looking after a loved one or patient needing basic caregiving at home.
- The workshop focuses on 2 main aspects, setting up the home environment and looking after the loved one/patient at home.
- Looking after the patient will include bed making, bed bathing, care of pressure parts, sitting in a chair and other practical tasks. Introduction to palliative care
5-Day Physical Assessment CourseCostings: R2500.00This course will enable:
- An understanding of physical assessment fundamentals
- Definition of the physical assessment of the patient
- Comprehension of the need for assessments of the patient
- Competency in performing a physical assessment
- Correct recording of records and data resulting from an assessment
- Competency and correct use of anatomical landmarks to describe the site of the patient’s signs and symptoms.
Two-day HIV/AIDS workshop. A workshop on palliative care in HIV/AIDS incorporating comprehensive medical and psychosocial management of advanced-stage AIDS. The workshop includes:
- Management of pain and symptoms related to HIV/AIDS
- Effective communication skills
- An understanding of grief and loss
- Management of challenges related to advanced HIV/AIDS including ART, resistance, drug interactions and treatment failure
Provides the skills required to break bad news effectively and appropriately.The course covers:
- Increased knowledge of Robert Buckman’s six-step protocol to break bad news
- Greater skill in applying the six-steps through the use of role-playing exercises
- Understanding the importance of breaking bad news sensitively
- The ability to manage a person in denial
The workshop covers the different types and causes of pain, how to do a thorough pain assessment with the use of pain rating scales and how to use the WHO ladder. The workshop also dispels some of the common myths and misconceptions around the use of opioid drugs.
Caregiving / Bereavement counselling