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Hökkä M, Ravelin T, Coupez V, Vereecke D, Brennan J, Mathe T, Brandstötter C, Paal P, Spanu DE, Mitrea N. Core Palliative Care Competencies for Undergraduate Nursing Education: International Multisite Research Using Online Nominal Group Technique. J Palliat Care 2024; 39:217-226. [PMID: 38584432 PMCID: PMC11097607 DOI: 10.1177/08258597241244605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Background: Nurses should have appropriate education and required competencies to provide high-quality palliative care. The aim of this international multisite study was to list and evaluate core palliative care competencies that European nurses need to achieve in their education to provide palliative care. Methods: The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used as a data collection method. NGT meetings were organized in four European countries. Targeted groups of palliative care professionals with diverse contextual and professional backgrounds participated in the NGTs. The research question was: "What are the core competencies in palliative care that need to be achieved during undergraduate nursing education?" Data analysis was done in two stages: grouping the top 10 answers based on similarities and thematic synthesis based on all the ideas produced during the NGTs. Results: Palliative care core competencies based on the research were (1) competence in the characteristics of palliative care; (2) competence in decision-making and enabling palliative care; (3) symptom management competence in palliative care; (4) competence in holistic support in palliative care; (5) active person- and family-centered communication competence in palliative care; (6) competence in empathy in palliative care; (7) spiritual competence in palliative care; (8) competence in ethical and legal issues in palliative care; (9) teamwork competence in palliative care; and (10) self-awareness and self-reflection competence in palliative care. Conclusions: It was possible to find differences and similarities in the top 10 palliative care core competencies from different countries. Thematic synthesis of all the data showed that there were various competencies needed for nursing students to provide quality palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Hökkä
- Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Oulu, Finland
| | - Teija Ravelin
- Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, Kajaani, Finland
| | | | | | - Joanne Brennan
- European Association for Palliative Care, Vilvoorde, Belgium
| | - Teodora Mathe
- University of Transilvania from Brasov, Brasov, Romania
- HOSPICE Casa Sperantei, Brasov, Romania
| | | | - Piret Paal
- Institute of Palliative Care, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Ethnology, Institute of Cultural Studies, University of Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Nicoleta Mitrea
- University of Transilvania from Brasov, Brasov, Romania
- HOSPICE Casa Sperantei, Brasov, Romania
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Bagchus C, Zee MS, van der Steen JT, Klapwijk MS, Dekker NL, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Pasman HRW. Challenges in recognizing and discussing changes in a resident's condition in the palliative phase: focus group discussions with nursing staff working in nursing homes about their experiences. BMC Palliat Care 2024; 23:144. [PMID: 38858719 PMCID: PMC11163817 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most nursing home residents have complex care needs, require palliative care and eventually die in these facilities. Timely recognition of changes in a resident's condition is crucial for providing appropriate care. Observations by nursing staff play a significant role in identifying and interpreting these changes. METHODS Focus group discussions were conducted with nursing staff from ten nursing homes in the Netherlands to explore their experiences and challenges in recognizing and discussing changes in a resident's condition. These discussions were analysed following the principles of thematic analysis. RESULTS The analysis of the challenges nursing staff face in identifying and interpreting changes in a resident's condition, resulted in three themes. First, that recognizing changes is considered complex, because it requires specialized knowledge and skills that is generally not part of their education and must partly be learned in practice. This also depends on how familiar the nursing staff is with the resident. Furthermore, different people observe residents through different lenses, depending on their relation and experiences with residents. This could lead to disagreements about the resident's condition. Lastly, organizational structures such as the resources available to document and discuss a resident's condition and the hierarchy between nursing home professionals often hindered discussions and sharing observations. CONCLUSION Nursing staff's experiences highlight the complexity of recognizing and discussing changes in nursing home residents' conditions. While supporting the observational skills of nursing staff is important, it is not enough to improve the quality of care for nursing home residents with palliative care needs. As nursing staff experiences challenges at different, interrelated levels, improving the process of recognizing and discussing changes in nursing home residents requires an integrated approach in which the organization strengthens the position of nursing staff. It is important that their observations become a valued and integrated and part of nursing home care.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bagchus
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Faculty of Health, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - M S Zee
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J T van der Steen
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Hippocratespad 21, Gebouw 3, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Primary and Community Care and Radboudumc Alzheimer center, Radboud university medical center, P.O. Box 9600, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - M S Klapwijk
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Hippocratespad 21, Gebouw 3, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - N Lemos Dekker
- Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - B D Onwuteaka-Philipsen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - H R W Pasman
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Li WY, Fang Y, Liang YQ, Zhu SQ, Yuan L, Xu Q, Li Y, Chen YL, Sun CX, Zhi XX, Li XY, Zhou R, Du M. Building bridges of excellence: a comprehensive competence framework for nurses in hospice and palliative care-a mixed method study. BMC Palliat Care 2023; 22:197. [PMID: 38087276 PMCID: PMC10714629 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01318-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospice and Palliative Care (HPC) is in high demand in China; however, the country is facing the shortage of qualified HPC nurses. A well-suited competence framework is needed to promote HPC human resource development. Nevertheless, existing unstandardized single-structured frameworks may not be sufficient to meet this need. This study aimed at constructing a comprehensive multi-structured HPC competence framework for nurses. METHODS This study employed a mixed-method approach, including a systematic review and qualitative interview for HPC competence profile extraction, a two-round Delphi survey to determine the competences for the framework, and a cross-sectional study for framework structure exploration. The competence profiles were extracted from publications from academic databases and interviews recruiting nurses working in the HPC field. The research team synthesized profiles and transferred them to competences utilizing existing competence dictionaries. These synthesized competences were then subjected to Delphi expert panels to determine the framework elements. The study analyzed theoretical structure of the framework through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) based on a cross-sectional study receiving 491 valid questionnaires. RESULTS The systematic review involved 30 publications from 10 countries between 1995 and 2021, while 13 nurses from three hospitals were interviewed. In total, 87 and 48 competence profiles were respectively extracted from systematic review and interview and later synthesized into 32 competences. After the Delphi survey, 25 competences were incorporated into the HPC competence framework for nurses. The EFA found a two-factor structure, with factor 1 comprising 18 competences namely Basic Competences; factor 2 concluding 7 competences namely Developmental Competences. CONCLUSIONS The two-factor HPC competence framework provided valuable insights into the need and directions of Chinese HPC nurses' development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ying Li
- School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Ying Fang
- School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Yi-Qing Liang
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Shu-Qin Zhu
- School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China.
| | - Ling Yuan
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, P. R. China.
| | - Qin Xu
- School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China.
| | - Yue Li
- Jiangsu Institute of Quality and Standardization, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Yin-Long Chen
- Jiangsu Institute of Quality and Standardization, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Chang-Xian Sun
- School of Health Sciences, Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Commerce, Nanjing, 211168, China
| | - Xiao-Xu Zhi
- Nursing Department, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Li
- Hospice Unit, The Air Force Hospital From Eastern Theater of PLA, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Rong Zhou
- School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Mai Du
- School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
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Connolly M, Ryder M, Frazer K, Furlong E, Escribano TP, Larkin P, Carruthers E, McGuigan E. Evaluating the specialist palliative care clinical nurse specialist role in an acute hospital setting: a mixed methods sequential explanatory study. BMC Palliat Care 2021; 20:134. [PMID: 34479521 PMCID: PMC8418028 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-021-00834-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Special palliative care is provided in a range of settings including a patient’s home (their primary place of dwelling), a hospice in-patient unit, or an acute hospital. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of the specialist in palliative care clinical nurse specialist (SPC CNS) role in an acute hospital setting. Methods This study was conducted using a mixed methods sequential explanatory approach in two phases; phase 1 involved completion of a study questionnaire (n = 121) and phase 2 involved part-taking in a focus group (n = 6) or individual interview (n = 4). Results Phase 1 results indicated that respondents held positive attitudes towards the Specialist Palliative Care Clinical Nurses Specialist (SPC CNS) in relation to clinical care, education and patient advocacy. Phase 2 qualitative findings identified the importance of the role in terms of symptom management, education and support. Conclusions This study provides an evaluation of a SPC CNS role since it was established in an acute hospital setting. The evidence indicates that there is a varied understanding of the role of the SPC CNS. The role was seen as an important one particularly in terms of referrals to and support provided by the SPC CNS, as well as recognition of the importance of the role is providing ongoing education to staff.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Connolly
- UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery &Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Mary Ryder
- UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery &Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kate Frazer
- UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery &Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eileen Furlong
- UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery &Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Teresa Plazo Escribano
- UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery &Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Philip Larkin
- Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eileen Carruthers
- Regional Specialist Palliative Care Services, Louth, Meath, Cavan, and Monaghan, Drogheda, Ireland
| | - Eileen McGuigan
- Regional Specialist Palliative Care Services, Louth, Meath, Cavan, and Monaghan, Drogheda, Ireland
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