Hospital palliative care team nurse – attended this course in Jan 2025

I work as a nurse in a hospital palliative care team, where providing psychological support to patients and families is a key part of my role. Before attending the Level 2 Psychological Skills course, I often felt that while I was offering support, I didn’t always have a clear structure for assessment or confidence about what to do next.

I decided to attend the course after it was recommended by a colleague who had found it very useful. I didn’t know much about what the course would involve, but I had heard good things and knew psychological skills were something we use a lot in palliative care.

One year on from attending the course, I can clearly see the impact it has had on my practice. One of the biggest changes has been in my assessment skills, I feel much more confident carrying out structured and formalised psychological assessments with patients. This has been particularly helpful when we’re asked to complete more thorough assessments before referring patients on to psychiatry.

One of the most valuable aspects of the course has been the resources provided. Having clear, practical resources to take away has made a real difference in day-to-day practice. They give me guidance on what steps to take with patients, what tools I can use, and where to look for further support if needed. Rather than feeling unsure or relying solely on referrals, I now have something tangible to refer back to, which helps me feel more confident and consistent in the support I offer.

The course also refreshed and strengthened my communication skills and gave me more confidence in how I use the time I have with patients. Instead of feeling that I need to refer patients on quickly, I now feel I have more tools I can use myself. I’m able to do more with patients, ask better and more appropriate questions, and make better use of often limited contact time.

Learning about psychological “red flags” was another valuable part of the course. It’s helped me recognise what I can support directly and when someone needs more specialist input. Having that awareness feels like an alarm in the back of my mind, guiding my decision-making in a more confident and informed way.

I also appreciated the focus on self-care. It was an important reminder of the need to look after ourselves when working with such emotionally challenging situations.

I would definitely recommend the Level 2 Psychological Skills course to colleagues. Psychological support services for hospital-based patients can be limited, and having these skills and resources allows us to offer meaningful support for issues such as anxiety or emotional distress while patients are in hospital. A year on, I still find myself using what I learned, and it continues to shape how I support patients and families in my role.