Improving Rural Emergency Nurses Comfort during Palliative and End-of-Life Communication

Background: Emergency nurses (ENs) often care for patients nearing the end of their lives or with life-limiting illnesses. However, ENs are hesitant to initiate palliative end-of-life (PEOL) discussions because a lack comfort these topics. Many have no formal PEOL communication training which contributes in emergency department (ED). Thus, purpose this quality improvement project was determine how affected rural perceived level during conversations.
 Sample/Setting: A convenience sample 14 registered working Northern Plains ED.
 Methods: implemented where received online education using End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Critical Care Communication module. This followed by scenario review and group discussion. Changes nurse were evaluated pre post survey reflective practice discussion.
 Findings: demonstrated statistically significant increased (N = 14, p 0.006) when communicating families ED. Qualitatively, ED expressed fears challenges specific while also identifying new evidence-based strategies they can use Conclusion: is vital caring Formal effective improving skills among ENs. Increasing has potential improve at end-of-life.
 Keywords: nurses, communication, palliative, end-of-life
 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v21i1.647