End-of-Life Education in a Prelicensure Nursing Program

The demand for palliative and end-of-life nursing is increasing with the aging US population. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing published recommendations for incorporating palliative and end-of-life care across nursing curriculum to prepare the future workforce. However, recommendations regarding teaching end-of-life content are limited. This project aimed to integrate and evaluate the outcomes of end-of-life education introduced in a prelicensure nursing program. Using a documentary created by the American Nurses Foundation, students had the opportunity to discuss common themes in end-of-life care, practice morgue care in the simulation laboratory, and practice reflective journaling. The students' preevaluations and postevaluations indicated that the educational program significantly increased their confidence in providing end-of-life care and support to patients and families, demonstrating the importance of end-of-life curricula in nursing school.