End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium-Veteran - Promoting Palliative Care in Veteran Nursing

Presented by VITAS Healthcare Marion County

The ELNEC for Veterans Project is a national educational initiative aimed at improving palliative care for veterans. As the number of Vietnam-era veterans aged 65 and older continues to grow through 2034, so too will the need for hospice and palliative care.

We hope the training provided through this curriculum offers another avenue to enhance the quality of care for thousands of veterans and equips clinicians with tools to care for them throughout illness and at the end of life.

Nurses are involved in all aspects of end-of-life care as they address the myriad needs of individuals during this period. They have the potential to greatly enhance comfort for those facing life’s end. Nurses and other interdisciplinary team members provide support for the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of veteran patients and their families. The ELNEC for Veterans curriculum is a national nursing education initiative administered by City of Hope in California.

The ELNEC-Veteran Course for this training contains seven modules addressing critical aspects of end-of-life care and the role of the nurse and other healthcare providers.

These modules include:

1. Palliative Care in Veteran Nursing
2. Pain Assessment and Management
3. Non-Pain Symptom Management
4. Communication
5. Final Hours
6. Loss, Grief, and Bereavement
7. Cultural and Spiritual Considerations

The ELNEC-Veteran curriculum also includes several common threads integrated throughout. These major themes are:

• The important role of any nurse as an advocate for veteran patients.
• The critical need for attention to special populations such as the elderly, children, veterans, and the uninsured.
• End of life issues impact all systems of care across all veteran care settings.
• Critical financial issues influence end-of-life care.
• End-of-Life care is essential across all life-threatening illnesses and in cases of sudden death.

Some objectives that will be covered:

1. Describe the role of the nurse and other members of the healthcare team in providing quality palliative care for elderly patients and residents in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and other veteran care settings.
2. List components of a thorough pain assessment geared towards veteran patients and residents of long-term care facilities.
3. Discuss dilemmas that may arise in end-of-life/ palliative care in veteran care.
4. Identify dimensions of culture and the influence of cultural and spiritual beliefs on palliative care for veteran patients.
5. Identify three factors that influence communication in veteran care.
6. Assess physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs and interventions for an imminently dying older adult and their family.
7. Verbalize an understanding of grief and loss issues as they relate to complex or traumatic circumstances.

Who should attend?

• Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses
• Nurse Administrators/Nursing Faculty
• Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses
• Case Managers/Discharge Planners
• Social Workers • Chaplains
• LTCF Administration

What is provided:

• 7 CEs for participants who stay for the entire course.
• An ELNEC Veteran Certificate of Attendance for participants who stay for the entire course.
• Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.

This is a Core Training Course. Seating is limited, register early.