Publication Date
2025
Presentation Length
Poster/Gallery presentation
College
Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing
Department
Nursing, School of
Student Level
Undergraduate
SPARK Category
Research
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Wofford
SPARK Session
Poster: Nurse as Leader 10:15-11:15
Presentation Type
Poster
Summary
The project addresses the lack of confidence and education among nurses in end-of-life care and pain management for cancer patients, specifically regarding ethical concerns related to hastening death. Nurses currently experience knowledge deficits in pain management and symptom control, which contributes to suboptimal care, ethical challenges, and inconsistent use of tools like RDOS and CPOT. The goal is to improve nursing confidence and their ability to efficiently manage pain and provide ethical treatment. By implementing the ELNEC training program, nurses will gain the skills necessary to assess and respond to symptoms of active death, ensuring proper care that reduces suffering. The project will begin with an assessment of nurses' knowledge gaps, followed by three months of targeted education and hands-on patient care, with follow-up surveys to evaluate progress. The evaluation will include self-reported surveys, EHR and EMAR audits, and patient and family satisfaction surveys. For sustainability of the plan, it involves requiring ELNEC training for new nurses and offering yearly re-education for all nurses. Upon the program's success it will be expanded to other units, creating a sustainable model for high-quality end-of-life care throughout the hospital, improving nurse competence and patient care.
Recommended Citation
Coyne, P., Lowry, S., Mulvenon, C., & Paice, J. A. (2024). American Society for Pain Management Nursing and hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Position statement: Pain management at the end of life. Pain Management Nursing, 25(4), 327–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2024.03.020 Cubukcu, M., Sahin, B., Kiymaz, D., & Simsek Yurt, N. (2024). Effect of education on symptom management and control in cancer patients receiving palliative care. Pain Management Nursing, 25(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2024.02.009 Davis, M. E. (2022). Enhancing nurses’ comfort and capability with end-of-life care for patients with cancer. Clinical journal of oncology nursing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10008030/ Kang, M., & Seo, M. (2022). Factors affecting nurses’ performance of cancer pain management in a tertiary hospital. The Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 25(3), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.14475/jhpc.2022.25.3.99 Kim, S., Lee, K., & Kim, S. (2020). Knowledge, attitude, confidence, and educational needs of palliative care in nurses caring for non-cancer patients: A cross-sectional, descriptive study. BMC Palliative Care, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-020-00581-6 Parajuli, J., & Hupcey, J. (2021). Oncology nurses’ identified educational needs for providing palliative care. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 43(9), 809–816. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945920986112
