NR 351 Week 6 Assignment; APA Scholarly Writing Paper - Palliative Care Integration

Chamberlain University College of Nursing APA Scholarly Assignment (Week 6) Tonya Triplett NR351: Foundational Concepts for the Practicing RN Dr. Lisa LeBlanc Abstract This paper provides a summary of the assigned article on the integration of palliative care into nursing education and practice, highlighting the escalating need amid the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for enhancement. Additionally, it addresses how technology helps or hinders nursing practice in relation to palliative care, drawing two relevant scholarly articles. The discussion emphasizes the ethical imperative for nurses to deliver primary palliative care and the potential of technological tools to support or impede this process. Palliative Care Article Summary The article underscores the urgent need for palliative care integration in nursing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an aging population, and rising serious illnesses. Nurses, as the largest healthcare workforce, are pivotal in providing primary palliative care, yet many lack confidence and knowledge, leading to gaps in communication and symptom management. The pandemic worsened these issues, with nurses facing challenges in conducting goals-of-care discussions amid isolation protocols and visitor restrictions. To mitigate this, resources such as communication scripts, virtual training, and telehealth were developed, helping family involvement in decision-making despite barriers like limited internet access. Expert symptom management also emerged as critical, with tools like the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) aiding in addressing symptoms such as dyspnea and anxiety. Continuing education is essential, though obstacles including time constraints hinder access; flexible, web-based formats are recommended. Formal integration into nursing curricula aligns with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials, promoting competencies in hospice and palliative care. For transitioning nurses, residency programs with simulations and debriefing sessions are advocated to build skills. Nurses must engage in interdisciplinary collaboration to deliver holistic care across settings, ensuring ethical obligations are met (Parekh de Campos et al., 2022). As Parekh de Campos et al. (2022) stated, "Provision of holistic, relationship- based, and integrated palliative care for patients and their families is an ethical obligation for all nurses" (p. 40). Impact of Technology on Nursing Practice Article Summary Technology can both help and hinder nursing practice in palliative care, as evidenced by research on healthcare informatio