Decreasing Nurses' Anxiety About Pediatric End-of-Life Care With Simulation

Abstract

Background: Caring for pediatric patients at the end of life (EOL) can lead to anxiety and burnout for critical care nurses. New graduate nurses (NGNs) often report receiving inadequate education related to EOL care and then enter the workforce with limited clinical experience in caring for patients at EOL. A quality improvement project at a pediatric academic hospital sought to determine whether a simulation-based educational program for NGNs working in critical care could reduce anxiety about EOL care. Method: Eight NGNs participated in a case study and simulation-based educational program that encompassed topics such as communication, symptom management, postmortem care, and support for the family at EOL. Anxiety was measured pre- and postprogram with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI © ). Results: Anxiety levels after participation in the EOL educational program decreased by 24.1% from preprogram levels. Conclusion: Providing NGNs in critical care with a case- and simulation-based EOL educational program can reduce anxiety levels and potentially decrease caregiver burnout. [ J Contin Educ Nurs . 2023;54(12):574–580.]