Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Susan J. Hayden

Abstract

AbstractEducation is needed among the health care collaborative team to address the lack of end of life conversation, the underutilization of hospice leading to patients’ end of life wishes not being met, the increased depression among bereaved loved ones, and the increased health care costs at the end of life. Nurses reduce the patient’s physical and emotional stress by helping guide conversations and answer questions to meet the needs of patients and their loved ones. This project addressed the practice-focused question to determine if nursing knowledge and expressed intentions about end of life care increase as shown via the difference between pretest and posttest scores following an educational event addressing hospice care and end of life conversation. Based on an exhaustive search of peer-review literature, the education program was developed using the theory of reasoned action and followed the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model. Eight nurses attended a 1 hour Zoom educational event to include a PowerPoint, video, and open discussion. Descriptive statistics were used to describe findings. The mean change in pretest (M = 57.5%) and posttest (M = 92.5%) item scores suggests that education was effective in increasing knowledge. Expressed intentions related to getting the end of life care conversation started also increased by an average of 40% to 60%. Staff education to prompt early end of life care conversations has potential to create a positive social change by addressing individuals’ end of life wishes, increasing early hospice admission, avoiding admission to the intensive care unit, lessening bereaved family depression, improving quality of life, and decreasing cost related to end of life care.

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