End-of-Life Care | Enhancing Quality of Life in Terminal Illness

Course overview

This learning activity examines contemporary end-of-life nursing care through the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) framework, addressing evolving trends including tele-palliative care, Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), death doulas, and early palliative integration. Nurses will explore evidence-based symptom management protocols for prevalent EOL symptoms across the lifespan, including pain, dyspnea, delirium, and gastrointestinal distress, with emphasis on age-appropriate assessment tools and multimodal interventions. The module integrates structured communication frameworks (SBAR, Serious Illness Conversation Guide) and cultural assessment tools (CONFHER) to support patient-centered care while addressing persistent disparities in hospice access among Black and Hispanic populations. Through clinical examples and self-reflection prompts, learners develop competencies in interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical reasoning regarding complex issues like MAID and palliative sedation, and culturally humble approaches to honoring diverse values during life's final transition.