Evaluating an educational programme for dignity care intervention with community nurses in Ireland

Background: A key aspect to the provision of palliative care is maintaining the dignity of the individual being cared for. Nurses working in the community setting need knowledge and skills to meet the needs of individuals who need palliative care and their families. Dignity Care Intervention Ireland is a community-based pilot project designed to implement a dignity care intervention for individuals with a life-limiting condition living in their own home. As part of the overall intervention, an education programme was developed for nurses working in the community. Method: Completion of a locally-designed questionnaire pre- and post-education. Results: Nurses working in the community setting welcomed and highly valued the Dignity Care Intervention Ireland education programme. There was an overall improvement in the understanding of palliative care for both groups and improved understanding of the principles of palliative care, with self-evaluated competence to apply these principles in daily clinical practice. Conclusion: The importance of education about palliative care to support the delivery of dignity-preserving care cannot be underestimated. Ensuring nurses have the requisite knowledge will enhance future practice development and subsequently improve care for patients with life-limiting conditions and their families.