The Memory Quilt: Heart-and-Hands Learning for Palliative Care

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Palliative Care
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Palliative care education for nursing students presents significant challenges.
• Effective strategies are needed to equip students for end-of-life care.
• Interpersonal and communication skills are crucial for patient and family support during transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a Memory Quilt activity as an initial teaching strategy for palliative care in nursing students.
• To assess the impact of the activity on students' interpersonal and communication skills.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a Memory Quilt activity in a nursing curriculum.
• Qualitative assessment of student engagement and skill development.

Main Results:

• The Memory Quilt activity demonstrated potential in improving nursing students' interpersonal and communication abilities.
• Students reported increased confidence in addressing patient and family needs in palliative care settings.

Conclusions:

• The Memory Quilt activity is a viable and effective initial teaching strategy for palliative care.
• This method enhances essential skills for nursing students transitioning to end-of-life care, improving patient and family-centered support.