“I Don’t Know What to Say”-A multimodal educational and environmental intervention to improve bedside nursing communication at end of life

“I Don’t Know What to Say”-A multimodal educational and environmental intervention to improve bedside nursing communication at end of life
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; Gregory Wolownik, Dorothy Wholihan; 4/25
... research shows inpatient medical-surgical nurses are not adequately trained to deliver end-of-life (EOL) care. This lack of foundational learning leads to gaps when communicating with patients and families and negatively impacts quality of care. A literature review and staff interviews identified barriers to communication, such as lack of formal education and experience; personal, cultural, and emotional challenges; and high workload. A multimodal intervention focusing on improving staff nurse communication skills was designed ...[including] environmental cues, engaging pocket cards, and an education module on communication techniques. Nurses demonstrated increased confidence and competence immediately following the education session, enduring at 4 weeks. Innovative, clinically relevant interventions can positively impact communication skills without requiring increased time commitments or high cost.