title: Professional needs of palliative care nurses in New South Wales.
abstract: A survey of 108 palliative care nurses practising in New South Wales, Australia, was undertaken to explore their professional needs and clinical knowledge. Opportunity for improved training was the most frequently nominated professional need. Only 12% of the sample had postgraduate qualifications in palliative care and fewer than 20% were currently undertaking postgraduate training. Sixty-three per cent of nurses indicated that a lack of opportunity for formal study was a problem for them. The results of the knowledge survey revealed a need for additional training. Many nurses did not have the clinical knowledge identified as minimal by an expert committee. Those nurses who had a postgraduate qualification in oncology scored more highly on the knowledge questionnaire than did those whose general nursing training was undertaken outside Australia. The implications of these findings for training and other professional support are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Newcastle, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Redman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hennrikus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce