Graduate nursing education regarding end-of-life care

Death from chronic illness continues to be associated with unrelieved symptoms, occurring in a hospital or other institution, with little discussion about advance directives. The role of nursing, particularly advanced practice nurses, is critical to improving care at the end of life. However, little attention is devoted to palliative care in most graduate nursing curricula, leaving advanced practice nurses poorly prepared to meet the needs of those approaching the end of their lives. The Graduate Educators program of the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC-Graduate) is one solution to this healthcare crisis. ELNEC-Graduate builds upon the existing ELNEC-Core program, yet focuses on the unique learning needs of advanced practice nurses. The purpose of the program is to provide nursing faculty with the knowledge and materials necessary to include palliative care throughout the graduate nursing curriculum, educating advanced practice nurses who will ultimately improve the care of those with life-threatening illness.