title: End of life and beyond as hidden curriculum.
abstract: End-of-life experiences are unique. Most can vividly recall feelings during those times. Governing boards in the United States attempt to guide nursing faculty regarding end of life curriculum. Yet, the beliefs of faculty members arising from those unique experiences can alter the tone and message of what students are actually taught--often surfacing as hidden curriculum. In this column the authors discuss hidden curriculum while presenting the beliefs regarding end of life, of four nursing faculty members from a single university. Heightened awareness and respect for the beliefs of all faculty members within any university setting is imperative in decreasing the development of hidden curriculum.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Nursing, Briar Cliff University.
authors.forename: Barbara Backer
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Condon
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimsley
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Mary Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nissen
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D019452:Terminally Ill; D014481:United States
keywords: end of life; hidden curriculum; nursing education; paradigms