Akademie für Medizinische Berufe

The next advanced training course is expected to start in July 2027.

The target group is nursing care staff who work with patients in palliative situations and have at least 2 years of professional experience.

• Healthcare and nursing staff
• geriatric nurses

In addition, the willingness to develop further and to work on change processes in nursing practice is expected. Further requirements are internet-enabled PC access and computer skills in word processing.

The aims of the advanced training are to enable you to:

• Special nursing care, counseling and support for people in a palliative situation and their relatives, taking into account their individual needs, based on a reflective attitude and current scientific knowledge
• Targeted assessment of care needs and evaluation of interventions carried out
• Responsibility in patient-oriented care systems such as primary care/primary nursing
• comprehensive coordination of patient-related services in an interdisciplinary team
• Responsible role in change processes within the care area and in operational tasks with regard to the care of people in a palliative situation and their relatives

The development of practical experience and self-care are promoted and the further development of ethical competence is supported.

The curriculum on which the advanced training is based follows the recommendation of the German Society for Palliative Medicine and focuses on the following topics:

• Fundamentals, organizational forms and exemplary clinical pictures of palliative care and hospice work
• Physical aspects of nursing care (pain, oral mucosal problems, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, neuropsychiatric symptoms, etc.)
• Psychosocial aspects of nursing care (psychological reactions, family and social environment, changes in body image and sexuality, etc.)
• Spiritual and existential needs (truth at the bedside, life balance, spirituality, interculturality, dealing with the deceased, etc.)
• Saying goodbye and mourning
• Ethical and legal aspects of nursing care
• Teamwork, networking and communication
• Self-care of the nursing staff
• Quality assurance
• Reflection

Scope of advanced training:
160 hours of theoretical instruction spread over 4 block weeks, plus a final day
During advanced training, participants complete a written assignment and present excerpts from it in a short presentation at the end.

During the advanced training, a 2-week internship in an inpatient or outpatient area in which people in a palliative situation are predominantly cared for is recommended.

• The advanced training concludes with a colloquium at which an excerpt of the specialist work completed during the course is presented.

After attending the course and passing the final colloquium, participants receive a certificate allowing them to use the additional title "Palliative Care". The advanced training is recognized and registered by the DGP and meets the legal requirements (§39a SGB V, §132 in conjunction with §37b SGB V).

• Participation is free of charge for employees of the hospital.
• The course fee for external participants is €1,880

In the 2025/26 course, 14 places are supported by the funding program "Strengthening palliative competence in outpatient and inpatient nursing care in Baden-Württemberg" of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration. This means that 40% of the course fees for these participants will be covered by funds from the state of Baden-Württemberg.

• The course comprises a total of 160 teaching units.
• You will receive 20 continuing education points as part of the registration of professional nursing care staff.