Palliative Nursing Commons^™

Use Of Interdisciplinary Rounds For The Identification Of Hospitalized Adults In Need Of Palliative Care, Brenda A. Blunt

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Palliative care (PC) is specialized care that aims to provide relief from the stress and symptoms of living with a serious illness (Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2022). PC services are often underutilized in the hospital, leaving a significant number of patients with unmet needs (Haranis et al, 2023; Kawashima & Evans, 2023; Smith et al, 2019). The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to improve processes for identifying hospitalized patients for referral to specialty inpatient PC. The intervention involved interdisciplinary rounds (IDR) for adult inpatients on two medical-surgical (MESG) units in an 84-bed community hospital in suburban Milwaukee, …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Providing Religious And Spiritual-Based Care For Patients Currently Receiving Palliative Care Services, Rachel Ann Bruce, Cynthia Dien, Kinnice Jordan Turner, Rebecca Kay Tisdale

Student Scholar Showcase

This literature review explores the effectiveness of providing spiritual and religious-based care to patients currently receiving palliative care settings. In the context of this research, palliative care is defined as the six month period before a person’s death. By examining peer-reviewed journal articles from 2020 to 2024, this literature review will incorporate findings from multiple studies (both qualitative and quantitative) in order to effectively compare and contrast spiritual and religious beliefs and practices for patients receiving palliative care. After thorough examination, collected research has demonstrated that individuals who receive both timely and frequent religious and spiritual-base care while on palliative …

Nursing Education On The Health Benefits Of Animal Assisted Therapy, Sara C. Barker, Allie P. Dunlap, Daniel T. Do, Charde Willis

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Background: Does nurse education for pediatric oncology families teaching daily animal-assisted therapy (AAT) health benefits reduce anxiety from 35% to 18% compared to current practice?

Methods: A literature search was conducted using CINAHL (356 articles), PubMed (412 articles), and Google Scholar (289 articles) with keywords including animal-assisted interaction, pediatric cancer, pet therapy, psychological support, caregivers, and psychosocial outcomes. Filters applied included peer-reviewed articles, English language, full text, publication within the last five years, randomized controlled or quasi-experimental study design, and relevance to nursing practice. 4 articles were chosen due to being directly relevant to education related to AAT and psychosocial …

Advancing Provider Knowledge On Precedex Use To Prevent Postoperative Delirium Through Targeted Education, Brian Gibbs

Scholars Week

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious and multifactorial complication commonly affecting elderly surgical patients. POD is associated with increased morbidity, longer hospital stays, and higher mortality rates. The use of benzodiazepines and opioids during the perioperative period is a significant modifiable risk factor for POD. Despite the potential of Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) to reduce POD incidence due to its sedative, and analgesic properties, it is not widely available in many operating rooms (OR). This project aimed to educate anesthesia providers on the benefits of Precedex and its role in reducing POD in patients over 65 years old. A quality improvement project …

Medical Aid In Dying Education For Hospice Nurses, Ian Woo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Medical aid in dying (MAID) is an option surrounding end-of-life care for hospice patients. This process gives patients the autonomy to end their life during the time and location of their choosing. MAID is growing in legalization and practice across the US. However, many nurses feel uncomfortable or unprepared when providing care for patients contemplating it. Hospice nurses should have confidence in their ability to care for patients through the process of MAID. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of education in strengthening new hospice nurses’ ability to care for patients through the process of MAID. Method: The research will …

Optimizing Advance Care Planning: Leveraging An Electronic Medical Record Prompt To Impact Advance Directive Documentation, Annette L. Meares

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Advance Directives (ADs) support patient-centered care by documenting preferences for future medical treatment. While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) incentivizes AD documentation through billing codes, national adoption remains low.

Local Problem: A rural Northern Illinois primary care practice had electronic referral capabilities for ACP; however, referrals remained low and inconsistent during Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs), limiting opportunities for AD completion.

Methods: This quality improvement project targeted Medicare AWV patients without ADs documented in the electronic medical record (EMR). During a 10-week pre-intervention period, baseline data were collected. In the subsequent 10-week intervention phase, an …

Implementation Of The Nurse-Driven Palliative Care Referral Protocol: A Quality Improvement Project, Khrystyna Lacombe

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Implementation of the Nurse-Driven Palliative Care Referral Protocol

Background and Purpose: Palliative care enhances quality of life, symptom management, and patient–family communication for individuals with serious illness. Despite strong evidence and national recommendations for early integration, referrals remain inconsistent and often occur late. At Advocate Sherman Hospital, only 17.9% of eligible oncology inpatients received palliative care consults. The absence of standardized referral criteria, reliance on provider discretion, and misconceptions equating palliative care with hospice contributed to delayed or missed consults. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to increase palliative care referrals by 20% within eight weeks through …

Perception Of Spirituality By Intensive Care Unit Nurses, Adejoke Felicia Ogidan

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

ICU nurses are identified as a population of nurses with a high risk of experiencing psychological stress due to the nature of their job in the ICU (Lyndon, 2015; Welp et al., 2015). Psychological stress is detrimental to nurses' mental health and the quality of patient care.

According to Watson’s Transpersonal Human Caring Theory, the spiritual perception of the nurse influences the nurse’s spiritual care practice, which in turn affects their self-care and care provided by the nurse to patients (Watson, 2021)This research explored the ICU-Ns' perception of spirituality and its relationships with spiritual care practices and self-assessed competency in …

Bibliography, Mary P. Bennett

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Bibliography of publications by Mary Bennett.

Reducing Anxiety And Burden: The Effect Of Caregiver Education In Hospice Care For Immigrant Families, Nicole Maria

Nursing | Senior Theses

Purpose

The purpose of this research proposal is to explore the impact of early mental health screenings, comprehensive education, and support in alleviating caregiver burden and anxiety among hospice immigrant family caregivers.

Methods

This research proposal will evaluate the effectiveness of caregiver education and mental health screenings. Baseline data will be collected using the Zarit Burden Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). After interventions are implemented, a post survey will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness.

Results

If the findings are statistically significant, they will support the hypothesis that caregiver education can reduce burden, improve caregivers’ mental well-being, and …

Early Palliative Care In Heart Failure, Meadow Stempek, Beverly Balfe, Jennifer Tantarelli

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Preparing For Loss: The Impact Of Hospital-Based Parental Death On Sibling Relationships, Elyssa Thea Cajilig

Nursing | Senior Theses

The death of a parent is a profound and life-altering experience, especially for children and adolescents, who no longer have a parental figure to guide them through the struggles of processing grief and adjusting to life. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of hospital-based parental death preparations on sibling relationships after the loss of a parent. Methods: This quasi-experimental, mixed method longitudinal study will explore the impact of structured hospital-based bereavement support on the quality of sibling relationships after parental loss. Quantitative surveys will assess relationship dynamics at three time points: immediately post-loss, 2 years …

Nursing Students’ Attitudes And Preparedness For Maid, Kristal Candray

Nursing | Senior Theses

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) also known as physician-assisted suicide in addition to euthanasia is on the rise with an increase in decriminalization of the practice(s) and enactment of practice-protected policies in many countries. Ethics and morals on the subject continue to be controversial in healthcare. As student nurses enter the field as clinicians, they may encounter a patient requesting MAiD. Studies from students in other countries where MAiD and/or euthanasia is practiced found that student nurses do not feel adequately prepared to navigate such situations. However, although MAiD has been legalized in a handful of states within the United …

Preparing Nurses For Medical-Assistance In Dying: The Role Of Comprehensive Education And Training, Keira O'Reilly

Nursing | Senior Theses

Medical-assistance in dying (MAID) is a process in which a consenting patient self-administers lethal medications with the intent of ending their life. This process is marked with ethical, emotional, and spiritual complexities. Nurses play a key role in MAID, through providing care as well as being a patient advocate. Specifically, intensive care unit (ICU) nurses often provide care to critical or terminally ill patients. However, according to the research, little formal training or education about MAID has been put into place for ICU nurses. To investigate, primary research articles regarding healthcare professionals’ experiences with MAID, educational gaps, and current training …

Nursing Education For End-Of-Life Oncology Pain Management, Anilyse Deisher, Savannah Phongsouvanh, Beau Glenn, Kaitlyn Woods

SPARK Symposium Presentations

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. …

Reducing Anxiety And Burden: The Effect Of Caregiver Education In Hospice Care For Immigrant Families, Nicole Maria

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Improving End-Of-Life Care: A Nursing Education Initiative, Spring C. Kingsley

DNP Projects

Background: This study addresses the gap in education and training for medical intensive care unit (MICU) nurses regarding the care of hospice patients. The traditional medical model of healthcare prioritizes illness treatment, often leading to inadequate end-of-life support and increased hospitalization during patients' final days. The rise of in-hospital hospice programs, or scatter-bed hospice models, highlights the need for nurses to enhance their skills in providing end-of-life compassionate care. The MICU at the University of Kentucky’s Chandler Hospital serves as a focal point for this initiative, given its role in caring for critically ill patients who require hospice attention.

Purpose: …

Enhancing Resilience In Oncology Nurses Through The Implementation Of A Peer Support Program, Denise M. Robinson-Smith

DNP Scholarly Projects

ABSTRACT

Background: Oncology nurses face high rates of burnout and compassion fatigue, contributing to significant turnover and threatening the stability of the oncology nursing workforce. The projected increase in cancer incidence and the resulting demand for oncology services underscore the urgent need for interventions that enhance nurse resilience. Local Problem: At a major hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, it was found that oncology nurses face a significant gap in emotional support, especially during critical incidents such as patient deaths or traumatic events. Existing resources were insufficient to address the unique stressors faced by this team. Methods: A quality …

Advance Care Planning Utilization Among Non-White Individuals With Heart Disease And Cancer Using Health Retirement Study (Hrs) Data, Trizah M. Njoroge

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a critical component of patient-centered care, yet its utilization remains disproportionately low among Non-White populations in the United States, particularly among individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. This article explores racial disparities in ACP engagement using secondary analysis of the 2018 and 2020 waves data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (SET). The study examines how race, disease type, comorbidity, and survey year predict ACP service utilization, defined as completing five key ACP components: a legal will, a medical care discussion, surrogate assignment (DPOA), a …

Improving Safe And Effective Management Of Pain At Home, Alayna V. Olivarez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pain is the most common clinical symptom in individuals with a cancer diagnosis. Additionally, home is the preferred place for cancer care which introduces numerous challenges for cancer pain management. The primary purpose of this literature review is to identify support interventions to enhance pain control, prevent exacerbations in pain, and optimize quality of life in individuals with cancer transitioning from the acute care setting to home. The secondary purpose of this review is to analyze patient-specific barriers influencing self-efficacy of pain management and overall health outcomes in the target population. A systematic literature search was conducted using CINAHL, EBSCOhost, …