Synopses of a selection of recently published research articles of relevance to palliative care: Simulation in end-of-life nursing education: a literature review

摘要

Palliative care is a complex, interdisciplinary practice, that takes place in numerous settings and encompasses the care of people with a range of life-limiting illnesses. Teaching the present and future workforce about the most effective ways to provide care is an ongoing challenge for educators and practitioners alike. This literature review provides insight into the use of simulation for certain aspects of end-of-life care education. The authors were interested in which, if any, aspects of clinical practice could be targeted and enhanced through the use of simulation in education. Experiential learning is widely recognised as a valuable means of bridging the 'theory-practice gap', particularly around those aspects of practice that involve complex decision-making, sensitive conversations and holistic assessment. Further, simulation arguably provides a safe learning environment for students to practice performing particular skills. Two recent literature reviews suggest that simulation in end-of-life care appears to enhance students' knowledge, self-confidence and communication, and that students value the learning experiences afforded by this approach. However, these studies did not focus on nursing competence in practice resulting from involvement in simulated education. The authors used a theoretical framework to evaluate the literature on palliative care nursing training. Within the 'Shared theory in palliative care' framework, 'competence' is taken to mean the nurse's capacity to translate skills, values and attitudes into action.