Addressing Cultural Competency and Primary Palliative Care Needs in Community Health Nursing Education

To meet the primary palliative care needs of older adults, especially the underserved and those of color, a qualitative descriptive study was conducted among nursing students (n = 34) in community health nursing whose clinical rotations included independent living facilities for low-income populations. Two themes were identified that influence student nurse confidence and self-efficacy in initiating conversations with seriously ill clients and assessing their primary palliative care needs: (1) emotional assessment skills and cultural competency and (2) an assessment guide to primary palliative care needs that provides structure and guidance to conduct such conversations. Two major categories were identified that influence student nurse confidence and self-efficacy in initiating conversations with seriously ill clients: (1) educational needs and desired experience and (2) cultural impact. Two major categories were identified that facilitated the assessment of primary palliative care needs: (1) a guide that provided structure and guidance in initiating and conducting conversations about serious illness and (2) insight into the primary palliative care needs of clients in the community.