Volunteer Continuing Education

Each year our patient care volunteers are responsible for earning twelve hours of continuing education to remain active. Volunteers are given credit for eight of these twelve hours for reading At the Heart, our quarterly volunteer newsletter. Volunteers must earn the other four hours by attending an in-service or completing self-study by the end of the year. Our 2010 educational opportunities are listed below:

Up, The Movie

Join us for a showing and discussion of the movie at the following times and locations.

Friday, July 16, 2010
2-4pm
South Charlotte Office

Friday, July 30, 2010
2-4pm
Levine & Dickson Hospice House

Receive 2 hours continuing education for attending.

A young Carl Fredrickson meets an adventure-spirited girl named Ellie and both dream of going to a Lost Land in South America. Seventy years later, after Ellie has died, Carl remembers the promise he made to her. By tying thousands of balloons to his home, he sets out to fulfill their lifelong dream. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey. Up is a movie about love, the grieving process and learning to live in the now.

RSVP to Crystal England at 704.335.3578 or Englandc@hpccr.org

Audio Conferences

Join some of our HPCCR staff at the following conferences and receive 1 hour of continuing education for each. Each topic will be held at the following locations, so no matter where you live there is one convenient for you:

South Charlotte Office Lobby Room
7th Street Office Towlen Multipurpose Room
LDHH Administrative Conference Room

Complicated Mourning
Mary Raymer, MSW, ACSW, Raymer Psychotherapy & Consultation Services, Acme, MI
September 28th
8:30-9:30am

Burnout, Compassion Fatigue & Self Care
Carol Wogrin, PsyD, RN, FT, Director, National Center for Death Education, Mount Ida College, Newton, MA
December 15th
8:30-9:30am

RSVP to Crystal England at 704-335-3578 or Englandc@hpccr.org

Self-Study options for Continuing Education

Make it a Movie Night!
Emma Thompson stars in Wit, an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Margaret Edson. Vivian Bearing is a college professor who learsn that she has advanced ovarian cancer and a short time to live, which gives her a dramatic insight into the importance of kindness and compassion. To receive two hours of continuing education, watch Wit and answer two of the following questions:

Do you agree with the physician’s style of diagnosis?
How do you feel about the medical team’s approach?
Did Vivian die a “good death?” What is a “good death?”
What are your thoughts about the professor visiting?
What are your thoughts about Jason?
Did Wit give you insight into your volunteer efforts?

You may submit your answers to Crystal Englandby email or by mail to 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.

Relax with a good book!
Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying has richly told and profoundly moving stories that enable us to respond to the dying in new and authentic ways. Authors Callahan and Kelly write from many years of experience as hospice nurses. They cared for patients and listened to their stories, and as they did so came to appreciate the near-miraculous ways in which the dying reveal their feelings, communicate their needs, and choreograph their final moments. Many have said that this book gave them awareness and insight and allowed them to discover the gifts of wisdom, faith, and love that the dying leave for us to share.

To receive two hours of continuing education, read Final Gifts and answer one of the following questions:

The authors tell many stories of dying people giving clues of their impending death using symbolic references. Have you experienced this? How can we learn to be more attentive/receptive to these clues?
One topic discussed is the comparison of birth and death and how they shifted from a home/family experience to an institutional experience but now seem to be shifting back to a more personal experience. What are your thoughts on this?

You may submit your answers to Crystal England by email or by mail to 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.

Additional Educational Opportunities

Movie: Away from Her (See Educational Opportunities sheet below for post-movie questions)
HPCCR Book Club: Glimpses of Heaven
HPCCR Book Club: A Healing Touch
HPCCR Book Club: Final Gifts
Documentary Investigates End-of-Life Care
Multiple Sclerosis: Definitions, Facts, Symptoms, and Working with MS Patients

Please click on the links below to view complete details on these educational opportunities. If you have questions regarding continuing education, please contact Crystal England at 704.335.3578.