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Published on: June 21, 2010
Finding the right words: the experience of new nurses after ELNEC education integration into a BSN curriculum
Introduction:
Palliative care is an important aspect of nursing when comfort and quality of life are the patient goals. Literature about practicing nurses, whether new graduates or more experienced, suggests they feel unprepared for end-of-life care. The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) developed a comprehensive program of teaching care of the dying to nurses and nursing students throughout the United States.
Purpose Of Study:
Researchers conducted this phenomenological study to explore the lived experiences of recent graduates who received ELNEC education content in their nursing programs and who cared for a dying patient within the first year of clinical practice.
Methodology:
Using open-ended semi-structured questions, researchers conducted taped interviews with a convenience sample of 12 recent graduates to capture the nurses' narratives. The stories of these new nurses highlighted issues they encountered and interventions they implemented to address these issues. Colaizzi's method of content analysis was employed.
Findings:
Final themes that emerged were facilitating a good death, realizing intrinsic rewards, learning through impressionable experiences, and maintaining balance.
Conclusions:
This research revealed the experiences of new nurses who received ELNEC education in their nursing programs and who cared for dying patients within the first year of practice, highlighting issues they encountered and interventions they implemented to address these issues. Stories from these participants' lived experiences offer helpful insight into the challenges of implementing EOL care in clinical practice as they supported patients and families through the dying process.
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