Project 467177

More children die when they are newborns than in any other period of childhood. Many of these infants die in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These units commonly provide palliative care. Palliative care acknowledges the suffering that patients and families experience at the end of life. Research studies have shown that nurses see formal education as important for providing high-quality neonatal palliative care. However, many studies have concluded that nurses do not believe that they receive sufficient formal education on this topic. No research has looked at how nurses learn to provide neonatal palliative care. Before developing educational resources to improve care, it is important to how nurses currently learn to provide neonatal palliative care, and nurses' learning needs.This study will focus on two objectives:1) To understand how nurses learn to provide neonatal palliative care2) To identify what types of learning nurses need to provide high-quality neonatal palliative careStudy participants will be recruited through nursing associations and hospitals. The study will include NICU nurses with over one year of experience who have provided palliative care to at least one infant. Information will be collected from interviews and focus groups.The death of an infant is a devastating and enduring loss. Nurses can support families through this time. It is important to know how NICU nurses currently learn to provide palliative care so effective learning methods can be designed and implemented. This study will provide important information on these topics. Nurses who are well trained to provide palliative care will better support families through the loss of an infant.