Literature Review

College of Nursing receives $1.8m gift from Mark Bruce Swillinger Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL; by Kristine Gobbo; 9/2/25 Florida Atlantic University's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing has received a $1.5 million gift from Mark Bruce Swillinger in memory of his wife, Marilyn Lee Swillinger, to establish an endowed professorship in hospice and palliative care nursing. The Mark Bruce and Marilyn Lee Swillinger Endowed Professor will expose nursing students to specialized studies in hospice and palliative care throughout their nursing education.

Why palliative care is more than just end-of-life support MedPageToday's KevinMD.com; by Dr. Vishal Parackal; 9/1/25 ... Palliative care as a system requires strong interpersonal and cross-specialty communication for smooth functioning, as patients may require expert opinions from different fields to optimize their treatment plan. Patient education for systemic follow-ups and establishing a baseline of knowledge regarding their diagnosis and potential danger signs helps create a better environment for holistic care. While we focus on the physical aspects of care and diagnosis, we often fail to realize the psychological and mental impact that such conditions can have on the patient and their family. ... The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives by easing their suffering and enhancing their quality of life is profoundly fulfilling. ... Editor's Note: Excellent descriptions of palliative care.

Make training more effective with microlearning and AI Training Industry; by David Resendes; 8/20/25 When people think of microlearning, it’s often viewed as a tool for reinforcement of longer form training, something used after the main event to help employees retain what they’ve learned. And while microlearning is incredibly effective in that role, it’s time to expand that view. ... More organizations are using microlearning as the primary delivery mechanism for critical learning content. When designed intentionally, it’s one of the most engaging, effective ways to introduce concepts, drive early understanding and encourage immediate application.

Mark Swillinger makes $1.5m donation to FAU College of Nursing Boca Magazine, Boca Raton, FL; by Christiana Lilly; 8/13/25 What was expected to be a typical speech turned into one that called for a round of applause: A $1.5 million donation would be made to Florida Atlantic University College of Nursing by local attorney Mark Swillinger in honor of his late wife, Marilyn. The announcement came during FAU President Adam Hasner’s speech at the 15th annual White Coats-4-Care reception at The Addison, an event that supports FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. ... Not only is it a hefty amount, but the donation will create a hospice and palliative care program in FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. Swillinger says he was inspired after seeing the attentive care his wife received in 2023, when she died from lung cancer.

Integrating advance care planning into end-of-life education: Nursing students’ reflections on advance health care directive and Five Wishes assignmentsNursing Reports; by Therese Doan, Sumiyo Brennan; 7/25Advance care planning tools, such as the Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) and Five Wishes, provide experiential learning opportunities [for prelicensure nursing students] that bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world patient advocacy. In this study, students were asked to complete either the AHCD or Five Wishes document as though planning for their own end-of-life care, encouraging personal reflection and professional insight. Students developed critical insights into their personal values, envisioned themselves in EOL scenarios, and reflected on their responsibility as future nurses. The assignment fostered both professional development and personal growth, making it a meaningful experience within the nursing curriculum. By encouraging students to engage personally with end-of-life decisions, the assignment cultivates empathy, ethical reflection, and a readiness to initiate sensitive conversations.

Simulation, flipped classroom, and reflective dialogue in socioemotional training in end-of-life care: Perspectives of nursing students Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing (HPNA); by María Lanza, Rebeca Abajas, Mar Aparicio Aparicio, Ángeles Melero, Carmen Ortego; 8/1/25The implementation of active methodologies in end-of-life education can play a crucial role in stimulating participatory learning and facilitating the acquisition of socioemotional competencies. ... From the students’ perspective, simulation, reflective dialogue, and flipped classroom enhance the conceptual learning process and facilitate students’ socioemotional preparation to face this complex and challenging professional situation. Editor's Note: Today’s tech-savvy nursing students show that simulation, reflective dialogue, and flipped classrooms build the person-centered qualities hospice and palliative care need. Use these methods—inside and outside the classroom—to improve patient/family care, teamwork, and self-care. For more information: 

Benefis’ Life After Support Group helps families heal after traumatic loss Times-Leader, Great Fall, MT; by Joee Taylor; 8/8/25 The grief that follows the sudden, unexpected loss of a loved one is overwhelming and isolating. For those navigating that painful reality, Benefis Peace Hospice of Montana offers a place to turn with the "Life After" support group. "We offer a private, confidential, safe place to gather people who have experienced this particular type of loss because these losses tend to be much more difficult because the losses were sudden and they were unexpected." said Jeanne Dussault, a volunteer who facilitates the group. The Life After Support Group is designed specifically for individuals who have experienced a death by suicide or another traumatic loss.Editor's Note: Bravo to Benefis Peace Hospice for providing this crucial service. Though bereavement support for traumatic, non-hospice deaths had been a standard service for many hospice bereavement services, this has be being cut. For extensive traumatic grief counseling education and resources, go to www.ADEC.org and enter "trauma" in its search engine.

[United Kingdom] Hospice staff learn life-saving skillsehospice, UK Edition, Derbyshire, UK; 7/26/25 Treetops Hospice is upskilling all its staff, from nurses to fundraisers, with essential life-saving skills, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillator use, through Basic Life Saving (BLS) training. The hospice, based in Risley, Derbyshire, welcomes hundreds of people through its doors every year. The rollout of the vital BLS training programme reflects the simple truth that anyone, anywhere, can face a medical emergency. ... Phil Shreeve, Director of Clinical Services, explained, “Just because we provide end-of-life care doesn’t mean we ignore medical emergencies.  We have a lot of people on site, including patients, families and carers, staff and volunteers, and even the general public who can walk around our grounds.

Hearing loss, loneliness may contribute to cognitive decline in older adults McKnights Senior Living; by John Roszkowski; 7/28/25 Hearing loss and loneliness can contribute to dementia in older adults, and simple interventions to address hearing loss, such as hearing aids, may reduce cognitive decline in some cases, new research finds. ... Results of the study showed that higher levels and worsening self-reported hearing impairment were associated with steeper decline in episodic memory issues and executive functioning (verbal fluency). Further, the researchers found that individuals who were not socially isolated but still felt lonely saw their cognitive decline accelerate if they were deaf.

When grief involves trauma − a social worker explains how to support survivors of the recent floods and other devastating losses The Conversation; podcast by Gemma Ware with Dr. Liza Lane; 7/17/25 The July 4, 2025, floods in Kerr County, Texas, swept away children and entire families, leaving horror in their wake. Days later, flash floods struck Ruidoso, New Mexico, killing three people, including two young children. ... When death is sudden, violent, or when a body is never recovered, grief gets tangled up with trauma. In these situations, people don’t only grieve the death. They struggle with the terror of how it happened, the unanswered questions and the shock etched into their bodies. I’m a social work professor, grief researcher and the founder of The Young Widowhood Project, a research initiative aimed at expanding scholarship and public understanding of premature spousal loss. Both my personal loss and professional work have shown me how trauma changes the grieving process and what kind of support actually helps. To understand how trauma can complicate grief, it’s important to first understand how people typically respond to loss.

Systems lean into nurse educator initiatives Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor; 7/18/25 There is a key driver behind the nationwide shortage of nurses: a severe nurse faculty shortage. To solve both shortages, more systems and nursing programs are creating formal venues to enlarge the nurse educator pipeline. Like the nurse shortage, universities and nursing programs are facing a nurse faculty shortage that has reduced their capacity to accept and train students. Too few nurses are pursuing advanced degrees and becoming educators in the field, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. So systems are developing programs that boost interest and remove barriers for nurses who want to teach. These programs — many of which launched in the last year — range in commitment and scale. Here are a few examples: ...

Carter, Bera introduce bill to strengthen palliative and hospice care workforce United States Representative Buddy Carter, Washington, DC; Press Release; 7/17/25Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) today introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), bipartisan legislation to invest in training, education, and research for the palliative care and hospice workforce, allowing more practitioners to enter these in-demand fields. ... "As a pharmacist, I understand the toll burnout takes on the health care industry, and I am committed to bolstering the workforce so nurses, doctors, and all health care workers can continue to pursue their passion for helping others,” said Rep. Carter. "As a doctor, I know how important it is to provide patients with comfort, clarity, and support when they’re facing serious illness,” said Rep. Bera. “The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act is a smart, bipartisan step to ensure more health care professionals are trained to deliver this kind of care."Editor's Note: Bravo to this pharmacist and physician bipartisan team for introducing this bill. Go to the article and scroll down to this press release's long list of "Supporting Organizations."