{"title":"Legacy at the Bedside: A Nurse-Led Evidence-Based Framework for Memory-Making in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.","authors":"Klarysa Torrez, Kristina Ursua, Hillery Phillips, Weerapong Lilitwat","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000001259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children who die in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and their families often face sudden deterioration, limited time, invasive technology, and emotionally overwhelming decisions. Memory-making can help families preserve connection, support parenting and sibling participation, and create tangible or digital keepsakes, yet bedside teams may feel uncertain about when and how to offer these practices without adding distress. This evidence-based practice article synthesizes recent pediatric palliative care, bereavement, and critical care literature and translates it into a nurse-led bedside framework for the PICU. The proposed LEGACY-PICU framework moves from listening to what matters most, through explaining options gently, guiding participation in a choice-centered way, acknowledging culture and faith, and creating keepsakes safely, to yielding space for privacy and ritual. PICU-specific actions include preparing supplies; integrating child life, palliative care, chaplaincy, and social work; coordinating timing around withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies or organ donation; and unburdening staff through role clarity and debriefing. A structured but flexible approach may help nurses and interdisciplinary teams offer memory-making as a compassionate invitation rather than a task.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148551115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Lived Experience of Nursing Student Witnessing Neonatal Resuscitation in Indonesia: A Phenomenological Study.","authors":"Ratna Puji Priyanti, Nurul Hidayah, Asri Asri, Eka Mei Dianita, Shih-Chun Lin, Santo Imanuel Tonapa","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000001255","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Preregistration nursing students may witness neonatal resuscitation during clinical placements, exposing them to high-intensity, life-and-death situations with potential emotional impact. The study aimed to describe the lived experiences of preregistration nursing students witnessing neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in real clinical settings. A descriptive phenomenological study using a Husserlian approach was conducted in tertiary neonatal units in Indonesia. Twenty students were purposively sampled. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi's method. The results of the study revealed 5 themes with 10 subthemes: (1) overwhelmed during neonatal resuscitation; (2) role uncertainty in neonatal resuscitation; (3) lingering emotional burden after resuscitation; (4) rebuilding coping and professional readiness through support; and (5) insufficient institutional support and stigma affecting help-seeking. Students experienced a profound gap between simulation and real-life exposure, marked by sensory overload, role ambiguity, and enduring emotional responses. Witnessing neonatal resuscitation represents an early confrontation with life-and-death care, generating emotional and moral challenges. Structured preparation, defined student roles, and systematic debriefing are essential to support students' psychological well-being and professional development.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148438954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Medical Aid in Dying: Bridging Ethical Guidance and Bedside Communication in Nursing Practice.","authors":"Jeanna Ford, Phyllis Whitehead","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000001256","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medical aid in dying (MAiD) has become an increasingly visible component of end-of-life care in the United States as legal access expands across multiple jurisdictions. As MAiD becomes more integrated into serious illness care, nurses, particularly those in hospice and palliative care, are increasingly the first clinicians to receive patient questions about this option. These inquiries are often embedded in broader concerns related to suffering, loss of autonomy, fear of prolonged dying, and desire for control rather than solely requests for hastened death. The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association's recent position statement on medical aid in dying emphasizes compassionate, nonjudgmental care, respect for autonomy, professional integrity, and the ethical obligation of nonabandonment while recognizing the complexities of conscientious objection. Despite this guidance, practical communication strategies for nurses responding to MAiD-related inquiries remain limited. This manuscript examines the evolving legal and ethical landscape of MAiD, explores the professional implications for nursing practice, and introduces the EXPLORE (Elicit, Explore, Probe Suffering, Learn Values, Observe Pressures, Review Support, Evaluate Next Steps) communication framework, a practice-based model developed to provide nurses with a structured, evidence-informed approach for responding to patient-initiated MAiD discussions. As MAiD becomes more prevalent, structured communication frameworks may strengthen nursing competence and improve patient-centered care in ethically complex end-of-life conversations.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cardiovascular Nursing Practices Following the Transition to End-of-Life Care for Patients with Heart Failure in Japan.","authors":"Akiko Sakamoto, Michiyo Asai","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000001251","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heart failure patients face unique end-of-life challenges due to unpredictable disease trajectories, yet nursing practices in cardiovascular wards' palliative care practices in Japan remain underexplored. This study clarified the palliative care practices implemented by nurses in cardiovascular wards after the transition of heart failure patients to end-of-life care. Six experienced nurses participated in semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using qualitative inductive analysis, and 4 key characteristics were identified. First, nurses provided early decision support despite prognostic uncertainty. Second, nurses balanced disease management with patient preferences through continuous physical assessment. Third, nurses coordinated complex discharge planning managing medical decisions and family preparation. Fourth, nurses engaged physicians to facilitate timely prognosis discussions. Importantly, these practices were delivered by experienced nurses in cardiovascular wards rather than palliative care specialists, reflecting integration of essential palliative care within routine cardiovascular nursing. Notably, cultural barriers and unpredictable disease trajectories create unique challenges requiring specialized nursing competencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148392470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lesley J Thweatt, John Haley, Katherine C Hall, Orlando Gutierrez, Tamara Nix-Parker, Isaac Martinez, Claretha Lyas, Katina Lang-Lindsey, Richard Knight, Patricia Pazant, J Nicholas Odom, Shena Gazaway
{"title":"Understanding Influencers of Decision-Making Behaviors Towards Advance Care Planning Among Chronic Kidney Disease Dyads: A Qualitative Descriptive Secondary Data Analysis.","authors":"Lesley J Thweatt, John Haley, Katherine C Hall, Orlando Gutierrez, Tamara Nix-Parker, Isaac Martinez, Claretha Lyas, Katina Lang-Lindsey, Richard Knight, Patricia Pazant, J Nicholas Odom, Shena Gazaway","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001245","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000001245","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shared decision-making is essential in managing chronic kidney disease, yet little is known about how patient-caregiver dyads develop these skills through structured interventions. This study aimed to characterize how patients with chronic kidney disease and their family caregivers' decision-making behaviors evolve when participating in a decision-skill-building intervention (Improving the Decisional Partnership). This qualitative descriptive secondary data analysis analyzed postintervention interview transcripts and coach follow-up notes from a parent study (November 2022-May 2023) using thematic analysis. The analysis revealed 2 themes demonstrating how patients' and caregivers' decision-making behaviors evolve when engaging in a decision-making intervention: (1) Facilitators of decision-making behaviors, and (2) The impact of decision-support training on decision-making. The first theme included 2 subthemes: (1a) disease stability, and (1b) relationships. The second theme included 2 subthemes: (2a) knowledge acquisition as a driver of decision-making behavior, and (2b) communication skills training as a catalyst for engaging in decision-making behaviors. Findings suggest that patient-caregiver dyad decision-making behaviors towards advance care planning can be shaped through exposure to knowledge and skills, fostering proactive information-seeking, and improved communication during clinical encounters.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148266926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Taylor Ronne, Andrea Cahill, Kassidy Horst, Leeza Struwe, Kelly Gonzales
{"title":"Implementing the PAR Scale in a Pediatric Concurrent Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project.","authors":"Taylor Ronne, Andrea Cahill, Kassidy Horst, Leeza Struwe, Kelly Gonzales","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000001246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pediatric patients in concurrent hospice and palliative care often face fragmented communication regarding family goals of care during acute hospitalizations. This quality improvement project evaluated clinician and care coordinator experiences with the implementation of the Preference for Acute Rehospitalization Scale at Children's Nebraska. A pre- and postimplementation survey design (n = 41 pre-implementation; n = 35 postimplementation) assessed awareness of family goals, confidence in decision-making, and perceptions of the tool among an interdisciplinary team. While clinicians expressed general openness to standardized communication tools, results showed no statistically significant differences in survey items, highlighting that successful adoption in complex pediatric settings requires sustained education, seamless workflow integration, and robust interdisciplinary engagement to ensure treatment remains aligned with family preferences.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148152212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Role of Collaboration in Early Palliative Care Referrals for Head and Neck Cancer.","authors":"Julie A Bekius","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001192","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001192","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Head and neck cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy given over a 6-week treatment regimen produces significant symptoms. These symptoms escalate during weeks 2 and 3, continuing for weeks or months after treatment. This impacts quality of life and can result in delays or cessation of treatment. Involvement of palliative care earlier in treatment can result in improved cancer-related symptoms, quality of life, and patient outcomes. The primary aim of this project was to improve the timing of palliative care referrals for patients with head and neck cancer, ideally before week 2 of treatment. The secondary aim of the project was to assess whether patient-reported pain and distress scores improved from the initial visit to visit 2 with palliative care. A retrospective chart audit was completed for baseline data. The project intervention included a multiteam collaborative huddle to educate referral sources about the benefit of earlier palliative care referrals. Results showed improved referral timing from 28% to 7% referred greater than 14 days after initiation of cancer treatment. For the 58 charts with completed pain and distress scores, 46.5% of patients had improved pain scores, and 53.4% had improvement in distress scores from the first to the second palliative care visits.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":"132-138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145999794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Monica L Beck, Katherine P Supiano, Margaret F Clayton, Kathleen Shannon Dorcy, Kristin G Cloyes
{"title":"Oncology Nurses' Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Conducting Spiritual Histories.","authors":"Monica L Beck, Katherine P Supiano, Margaret F Clayton, Kathleen Shannon Dorcy, Kristin G Cloyes","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001194","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nurses can relieve spiritual suffering experienced by advanced cancer patients through meaningful spiritual conversations (eg, spiritual histories), but may be reticent to do so, citing lack of knowledge, skills, and time as primary barriers. The Lift the Spirit (LtS), a novel online educational communication intervention targeting these barriers, was tested using a pilot quasi-experimental concurrent mixed-methods design. The LtS pilot integrated online education, simulated spiritual history assessment using the Faith, Importance, Community, Action tool, and post-test debriefing with nurse participants (n = 17) to elicit their perceptions of the facilitators and barriers of the LtS and conducting spiritual histories in clinical practice. Debrief interview data were deductively then inductively coded, and content analyzed to describe patterns of response. Participants described barriers and facilitators at the levels of institution/profession (lack of education and training), self (vulnerability and perceived riskiness), and patient (cultural difference) that were similar to barriers noted in the literature. Facilitators included feeling equipped and supported, and having external cues as reminders. No new barriers were uncovered, but the degree of negative affect (eg, angst, fear, and vulnerability) in the responses was discovered. The LtS, primarily the Faith, Importance, Community, Action tool and role-play components, demonstrated clinical utility in equipping nurses to overcome barriers to spiritual care in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":"e130-e138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145710078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Community-Emergent Advance Care Planning Programming for LGBTQ+ Older Adults.","authors":"Elizabeth Giles","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001195","DOIUrl":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000001195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The percent of the American population that self-identifies as LGBTQ+ is currently doubling generation after generation. Advance Care Planning and Health Care Proxy completion have unique challenges in this growing, aging queer community due to nontraditional family structures, as well as risk factors from historical and current discrimination. LGBTQ+ older adults benefit from a systematized and provider-led approach to assistance with making difficult decisions and mitigating their vulnerability in health settings. This article highlights the implementation of a novel, community-emergent, and evidence-based LGBTQ+-specific Advance Care Planning toolkit as a free, online resource that can be accessed and used by any patient or provider in America to address this critical palliative care need. This quality improvement project empowers nurse-led, interdisciplinary health equity initiatives using this novel online Advance Care Planning toolkit resource to serve vulnerable populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":" ","pages":"139-143"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145709889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}