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The Essential Pain Management Program (EPM) This program includes up-to-date, best practice and evidence-informed palliative care knowledge, utilizing the innovative Partnering for Palliative Education learning environment, powered by D2L Brightspace. 

Learners must be NPs, RNs or RPNs to apply for EPM

Due to continuous changes in hospice and palliative care, we recommend re-taking EPM every five years.

New Online Format

Learners work at their own pace!

EPM is divided into two parts - Part 1 (EPM) & Part 2 (AMP). Learners are expected to work through both parts by reading and interacting with the course modules.  The course is designed so that as a learner successfully completes one module, and achieves 100% on that module’s quiz, then the next module will automatically become visible and accessible.  Once learners have completed all modules and quizzes in Part 1 (EPM), they will be eligible to attend an EPM Coaching Session.  When learners have completed the Part 2 (AMP) module and quiz, they will be eligible to attend an AMP Coaching Session. See course content below for more details.

Eligibility Criteria

EPM has been designed to benefit and appeal to all classes of nurses who care for adults living with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses. EPM is designed to allow learners to set their own learning pace as they enhance foundational knowledge, interact with evidence-informed tools and resources to complete case-based activities, and engage in one or more coaching sessions designed to be responsive to their individual pain-related learning needs.

Not Sure if EPM is for You?

There is a significant amount of course work required in EPM.  Please review the following in detail:

• Course Content, Objectives and Expectations
• Technology Requirements
• All course work / materials provided online
• Learners are required to interact with peers and facilitators during the Coaching Sessions
• Brightspace tracks progress so facilitators can assist learners to stay on track.

  Why EPM?

• Peer-reviewed, evidence-informed and up-to-date course content
• Facilitation and mentorship by experienced local palliative care nurse consultants
• Successful completion of EPM prepares learners to meet the palliative care competencies for Nurses as outlined in the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework and Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework.

Course Overview

The EPM course takes approximately eight weeks to complete

Local palliative nurse consultants work with EPM learners to provide foundational knowledge and skills in pain assessment, management and evaluation from a palliative care approach. The focus of the course is on the pharmacological management of pain which can then be applied to practice.

Course Content

Part 1 - Effective Pain Management (EPM) Course (Total:18 hrs)

• Getting Started module (+ quiz*)
• Foundational modules (+ quizzes*)
• EPM Coaching Session to target learner-specific needs
• Multiple Case-based, Interactive Activities to practice tools and approaches
• Multiple Self-checks to help test learner understanding

Following completion of Part 1 (EPM), learners will have automatic access to the mandatory, online Part 2 (AMP) Preparation module, to explore advanced pain

Part 2 - Advanced Approaches to Management Pain (AMP) Preparation (Total: 5 hrs)

• AMP Preparation Module (+ quiz * )
• AMP Coaching Session (3 hours) with case-based activities for skills practice

For more EPM course details, please review: EPM Content, Objectives and Expectations.

Available EPM Course 

EPM Spring 2026 Online 

Course Cost:  $40  The course fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable.
Note one-time offering - Upon successful completion of this EPM course, learners will be refunded the course cost of $40.00.

• Course Start Date:  May 12, 2026  
• Course Work to be Completed by: June  23, 2026 
• Coaching Sessions: June 23-July 7, 2026   Learners must have all course work completed before attending a Coaching Session.

Certificates will be issued upon successful completion of, and active participation in, all course components.   Incomplete attendance or non-participation (e.g., camera off, multitasking) may affect the issuing of your certificate.  

For more information, please contact hpcinfo@hospicewaterloo.ca