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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify three educational needs of nurses caring for dying patients in Long Term Acute Care.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify three palliative care goals for patients dying in the Long Term Acute Care setting.
Long Term Acute Care hospitals serve as the intermediary for acute and long term care facilities. The increasing number of chronic illnesses leading to death versus recovery in these hospitals has suggested the need for quality palliative care practices. Gaps in education among professional nurses affect the quality of life in patients receiving palliative care. Therefore, education and preparation are crucial factors among this nursing population.
The nursing perspective is one way to identify education needs regarding palliative care in the Long Term Acute Care environment. Reflecting nurses’ lived experiences with the anticipation of improving palliative care practices justifies the significance of this research.
Hermeneutic phenomenology as interpreted by Max van Manen was utilized and data were collected through audiotaped, semistructured interviews at a private location selected by the participant. A matrix format was utilized in interpreting the essences of the lived experiences.