A Framework for Integrating Oncology Palliative Care in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Education

Advancing the Role of the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Palliative Care

Doctor of nursing practice-prepared nurses are well suited to provide high-quality palliative care to patients with serious illness and their caregivers. Their rigorous education and expertise prepare them for the complexity often associated with chronic disease and end of life. There are clear and strong recommendations from multiple national organizations supporting palliative care education for nurses and tools available for nurses to implement palliative care into practice. This article is from the perspective of the doctor of nursing practice nurse. It reviews the limited evidence on palliative care integration into the doctor of nursing practice role, the barriers to palliative care education and implementing palliative care into practice, and the potential roles that a doctor of nursing practice palliative care nurse may fill in health care.

Oncology Resources for Students Enrolled in Pre-Licensure and Graduate Nursing Programs in the United States: A Scoping Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review summarizes oncology resources for pre-licensure and graduate nursing programs in the United States.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases were searched to identify resources (2008-2019) published in peer-reviewed journals. While 1,503 papers were initially identified, 49 met inclusion criteria.

CONCLUSION

Thematic analysis revealed five themes with subthemes: (1) didactic courses; (2) clinical opportunities; (3) didactic and clinical resources; (4) simulation resources; and (5) other.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Academic educators are charged with preparing a nursing workforce capable of providing safe and quality evidence-based care across the cancer continuum. Findings offer examples that overcome curriculum barriers.