title: Improving End-of-Life Care Knowledge Among Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is imperative that nurses are proficient and comfortable providing care to patients at the end of life. Recent studies show that nurses' knowledge of end-of-life care is less than optimal. Effective, evidence-based methods to infuse palliative and end-of-life care education into the undergraduate nursing curriculum are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive pre- and postassessment evaluating senior nursing students' acquisition of knowledge on end-of-life care after attending the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) core course was conducted. The course evaluation included qualitative statements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the ELNEC course, one-third of the students had cared for a dying patient during clinical rotations, yet 85% reported they had not received adequate training in end-of-life care. Posttest questions related to palliative care, symptom management, communication, and grief indicated that students acquired significant knowledge after participating in the ELNEC course ( P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ELNEC core course is an effective way to improve nursing students' knowledge of palliative and end-of-life care.
authors.affiliation: 1 Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Toni L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.affiliation: 1 Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garvan
authors.affiliation: 2 Family, Community and Health System Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Rose M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nealis
authors.affiliation: 2 Family, Community and Health System Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Citty
authors.affiliation: 1 Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Derrico
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC); baccalaureate nursing education; end-of-life care; hospice and palliative care nursing; palliative care