NNP education in neonatal end-of-life care: a needs assessment

To determine from practicing neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) their perceived end-of-life (EOL) care learning needs.

A needs assessment-based evaluation methodology was used to answer the research questions. A neonatal EOL needs assessment survey was developed, pilot tested, and then mailed to 260 NNPs across the United States.

NNPs in clinical practice regarded their education on EOL for neonates and their families as inadequate. Twenty-three percent ranked "delivery room decisions to resuscitate infants considered at edge of viability" as the item for which they most wanted more training. The other top-ranked EOL items included balance between giving parents false hopes and removing all hopes, and communicating and giving bad news to families.

Based on these findings, specific neonatal EOL education and communication skill workshops are warranted for graduate nursing core and advance practice continuing education courses. Additionally, there needs to be a mechanism to provide EOL content and support for the NNP already in clinical practice; it is suggested that learning about EOL issues can be integrated into existing (continuing nursing education CNE) educational activities. Further research is needed on what issues, tools, and methods in CNE programs make a difference in the experience of NNPs.