NSP 3685 - End-of-Life Care

College of Nursing

Credit(s): 2
Contact Hours: 30
Effective Term Fall 2025 (655)

Requisites

Admission to Nursing (Bachelor of Science) (NURS-BS) and
Pre- or Co-requisite NUR 3805 with a minimum grade of C

Course Description

This course will provide an overview of the issues related to providing end-of-life care. Although end-of-life care emphasizes a team approach, this course will focus on nursing interventions commonly used. Topics to be covered include symptom management including pain control, psycho-social needs of the patient and family, spiritual care, advance directives, and meeting the needs of the caregiver.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will differentiate between palliative, hospice, and end-of-life care by:
    1. defining the terms palliative, hospice, and end-of-life.
    2. describing patient situations that would be appropriate for palliative, hospice, or end-of-life care.
    3. discussing current societal controversial issues related to patients who may be dying.
  2. The student will describe the scope of care that is available to patients at the end-of-life by:
    1. exploring issues and concerns of patients and their families at the end-of-life.
    2. comparing the role of the nurse to the role of the clergy in addressing end-of-life spiritual needs.
    3. comparing the role of the nurse to the role of the clergy in addressing end-of-life spiritual needs.
    4. exploring the needs of caregivers of patients at the end-of-life.
    5. differentiating the role of the nurse from the social worker in meeting the psycho-social needs of patients at the end-of-life.
  3. The student will accurately analyze interventions for common end-of-life symptoms by:
    1. recognizing signs and symptoms of patients in the last few days or hours of life.
    2. evaluating interventions useful for alleviating discomfort of symptoms described in case studies.
    3. demonstrating accurate conversions of pain medication.

History of Changes

Effective 20061(0370). (submitted as 31XX, State assigned number) Was NUR 3758; changed by State Field Review
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2025 (655)

Related Programs

  1. Nursing (NURS-BS) (670) (Active)