Prelicensure Nursing Students' Attitudes and Perceptions of End-of-Life Care.

BACKGROUND

It is important that education on palliative care begin early in prelicensure nursing education because of the complex care needs of patients requiring end-of-life care.

PROBLEM

Nursing students often lack confidence and skills in providing quality care for these patients.

APPROACH

Nursing students' attitudes on end-of-life care were assessed using the Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying scale. Students were tested as sophomores, then again as seniors, in a nursing program where the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) curriculum had previously been integrated.

OUTCOMES

Seniors reported improved comfort levels providing end-of-life care.

CONCLUSION

Assessing for improved comfort levels among nursing students who receive ELNEC training could help support ongoing efforts to integrate this education in all nursing programs. Students who had formal education in end-of-life care were more comfortable caring for patients at end of life and had a better understanding of their role.