Two prelicensure nursing programs assess readiness to standardize palliative and end of life care curriculum

Abstract

There is a growing imperative for nurses to be adequately trained to care for patients with serious, life-limiting illness. However, the current nursing education system requires vast content areas be taught, resulting in minimal emphasize on palliative and end-of-life care and inadequate preparation of nurses to care for dying patients upon entering practice. To address the need for enhanced palliative and end-of-life care integration within their respective programs, two universities conducted needs assessments to determine the best next steps in enhancing student preparation to care for patients with serious, life-limiting illness. One university engaged in a three-part needs assessment resulting in the formation of an ad hoc committee to guide discussions for content integration. The second university engaged in a faculty-led survey to identify areas for improvement within the program. The purpose of this paper is to describe the processes and challenges encountered by both schools to aid other programs that may be considering or preparing for a similar endeavor.

Evaluating ICU nurses’ education, practice, and competence in palliative and end-of-life care in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

“…This low number can negatively affect patient outcomes while increasing the emotional burden on healthcare professionals due to a perceived lack of competence (Institute of Medicine Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing at the Institute of Medicine, 2011 ). The gap in education, particularly in the realm of PEOL care, has been a recurrent theme in many studies, indicating a systemic issue that transcends individual institutions (Davis & Lippe, 2017 ; Eltaybani et al, 2021b ; Etafa et al, 2020 ; Hussin et al, 2018 ; Muliira et al, 2023 ; Wang et al, 2022 ). Addressing this educational gap should be prioritized, and the focus should be on amalgamating PEOL care modules in the foundation of nursing education and continuous professional development programs (Ferrell et al, 2016 ; Li et al, 2019 ).…”

“…On the other hand, there is extensive research related to nurses' attitudes and knowledge regarding PEOL in Saudi Arabia and globally. An analysis of existing findings brings to the fore some worrying findings about the insufficient education and knowledge among nurses regarding PEOL care (Aboshaiqah, 2019 ; Alshaikh et al, 2015 ; Davis & Lippe, 2017 ; Eltaybani et al, 2021b ; Etafa et al, 2020 ; Hussin et al, 2018 ; Muliira et al, 2023 ; Sesma-Mendaza et al, 2022 ; Wang et al, 2022 ). It has been noted that nursing schools fail to ensure that student nurses are sufficiently prepared to deliver care for patients nearing the end of life.…”