End-of-Life Teaching Strategies

A number of national organizations have identified the need to improve the quality of care for patients ar the end-of-life (EOL). For example, in 2003 the Last Acts Campaign released the results of a survey in which every state in the United states rated the care at the EOL as mediocre or worse. They also rated the ability of health care workers to provide emotional support for family members of patients who are dying as fair or poor. 93% of Americans believe that improving EOL care is important. The results of these surveys have ignited a greater interest in the development of curriculum and teaching strategies related to EOL care in the undergraduate nursing programs throughout the country.