About the Course
TAOGP01 - Hospice and End-of-Life Care Training Program
$499
We are proud to offer the world's first comprehensive hospice and end-of-life care training program designed to elevate Registered Veterinary Technicians' knowledge and skill set!
Our comprehensive program comprises six courses and assignments, helpful templates, and world-class resources to assist RVTs in developing and implementing a dedicated hospice program in their clinic.
This program includes:
TAOG01 - Introduction to the Art of Goodbye
TAOG02 - The Art of Navigating Hospice Care for RVTs
TAOG03 - The Art of Hospice and End-of-Life Care Communication
TAOG04 - The Art of Delivering a Quality-of-Life Consultation
TAOG05 - The Art of Navigating Hospice and End-of-Life Care Challenges
TAOG06 - The Art of Optimizing Your End-of-Life Care Kit
TAOG01
Introduction to the Art of Goodbye
This course will teach you about the modern expectations of a family saying goodbye to their pet. It will help you better understand why a good death matters and teach you how to create a more meaningful hospice and end-of-life care experience for everyone involved.
The Introduction to the Art of Goodbye course covers the following subjects:
How the human-animal bond has evolved over the centuries.
Modern expectations that families have for their pet’s end-of-life care.
The steps to creating a meaningful experience.
How to support our emotional well-being.
What is burden transfer, and how can we help avoid it?
The factors that lead to a family's end-of-life care decision.
TAOG02
The Art of Navigating Hospice Care for RVTs
While all healthcare professionals can benefit from enhanced hospice and end-of-life care training, Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) are uniquely positioned to lead this transformative shift in veterinary care. Hospice care, though an established practice in human medicine, is a new and evolving approach within veterinary medicine. The introduction of RVT-led hospice programs is a groundbreaking advancement in providing compassionate, patient-centered care.
From the moment a patient receives a terminal or life-limiting diagnosis—or even a suspected diagnosis—they are considered hospice patients. At this point, the focus of care shifts to providing comfort, education, and family support. RVTs must receive specialized training that educates and empowers them to develop, manage, and lead these essential hospice programs within their clinics.
This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently navigate the challenges RVTs face when providing hospice and end-of-life care. By completing this training, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of veterinary care by enhancing the experience for patients and their families during these critical moments.
The Art of Navigating Hospice Care for RVTs course covers the following subjects:
The importance of following guidelines surrounding supervision and delegation.
Tips for building the DVM’s confidence in your hospice and end-of-life care skillset.
How to develop a plan to ensure the family has confidence in your abilities.
How to answer the question “Are you a vet?”.
The steps to developing a hospice program in your clinic.
The importance of collaborating with the DVM to create thorough hospice and end-of-life care protocols.
TAOG03
The Art of Hospice and End-of-Life Care Communication
The way we communicate during end-of-life care is VERY different from the way we communicate with clients daily. We must learn this “new language” to better serve families on a pet owner's most difficult day.
This course was designed to help you develop your hospice and end-of-life care communication skills. Compassionate communication improves the end-of-life care experience for the patient, the family, and the care provider.
The Art of Hospice and End-of-Life Care Communication course covers the following subjects:
How judging a family's hospice or end-of-life care decision creates massive communication barriers and increases our risk for burden transfer and burnout.
Core communication skills.
How to convey compassion as you communicate with a grieving family.
Phone and email communication etiquette surrounding hospice and end-of-life care.
The do’s and don'ts of hospice and end-of-life care communication
The role body language plays in end-of-life care communication and the do’s and don'ts of body language.
Strategies for navigating hospice and end-of-life care communication challenges.
TAOG04
The Art of Delivering a Quality-of-Life Consultation
One of the biggest struggles a family has as their beloved pet approaches the end of their life is knowing when it's time. The veterinary team's responsibility is to empower families with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to monitor their pet’s comfort and overall quality of life.
This course is designed to equip RVTs with the knowledge and skills to deliver world-class quality-of-life consultations and follow-up schedules that empower families to monitor their terminally ill pet’s quality of life. You will also review helpful hospice modalities, including Pain Holidays, Comfort Kits, and more.
The Art of Delivering a Quality-of-Life Consultation course covers the following subjects:
What is a quality-of-life assessment and how to deliver one.
How to use quality of life scales.
The importance of having a family track their pet’s good days and bad days on a calendar.
Helping families use a pain scale.
The importance of quality over quantity.
Follow-up schedules for hospice patients
Hospice modalities: Pain Holidays, Comfort Kits, and Nebulization.
Creating a bucket list.
TAOG05
The Art of Navigating Hospice and End-of-Life Care Challenges
Families now have higher expectations for their pet's end-of-life care experience.
This course is designed to help you navigate the challenges that arise during end-of-life care appointments and improve the experience for the patient, the family, and yourself.
The Art of Navigating Hospice and End-of-Life Care Challenges course covers the following subjects:
What to do when a family can’t let go.
How to create a meaningful hospice experience.
End-of-life care sedation basics.
The difference an excellent sedation protocol makes for the patient, family, and care provider.
Examples of end-of-life care sedation protocols.
Tips and tricks for reducing fear and discomfort.
The secret to achieving muzzle-free end-of-life care.
Tips and tricks for handling aggressive, sensitive, and fearful patients.
Common reasons a patient won't fall asleep and what to do.
Handling seizures that occur before catheter placement.
Keys to helping respiratory distress patients fall asleep.
Edema in the limbs.
What to do when you can't secure a vein.
How to administer intra-organ injections.
Respectful body handling.
TAOG06
The Art of Optimizing Your End-of-Life Care Kit
Having everything you need during an end-of-life care reservation is very important. Creating a designated bag or kit ensures you remain organized and prepared to handle any situation.
The Art of Optimizing Your End-of-Life Care Kit course covers the following subjects:
Things to consider when picking a bag/kit.
Basic supplies you can't do without.
How to pre-make intra-organ injection packages.
Supplies that you'll want extras of.
Additional resources to keep in your bag/kit.