The Evaluation of a Palliative Care Advanced Practice Nursing Externship

A growing population of persons with a serious illness will place higher demands on health care professionals to provide the palliative care needed. A Palliative Care Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Externship was developed and implemented as a novel way to increase access to palliative care with the potential to be replicated in multiple locations. Two APRN cohorts with a total of 10 APRNs participated in a 1-week educational program, including both classroom and clinical experiences, in 1 such site. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated by participants through an electronic survey and debriefings. Active learning experiences included role play, case studies, and clinical observation and were rated as highly valuable by participants. An important theme concerning the validation of current practice was identified. Future externship programs should be refined by incorporating participant feedback and continuing to use a variety of techniques to engage learners with diverse learning styles.