Nursing Faculty Perceptions and Integration of Primary Palliative Care Content in Undergraduate Education: National...

Undergraduate nursing students require adequate primary palliative care education in their formal education to prepare them to care for the growing population of individuals living with serious illness and their families. This paper aggregates results from 3, nationwide cross-sectional, descriptive, needs assessment studies and one single-institution needs assessment study to explore faculty perceptions and the integration of primary palliative care content in undergraduate nursing programs in the United States. Each study's design and needs assessment survey are described, followed by aggregated results from 137 respondents related to faculty demographics, nursing program details and primary palliative care integration, and faculty perceptions of primary palliative care education. Results from the local needs assessment are presented independently. Findings identify strengths related to faculty perceptions and preparedness. Key curricular gaps and opportunities in primary palliative care education pertain to alignment with competence expectations, supporting the need for academic-practice partnerships.