Core Palliative Care Competencies for Undergraduate Nursing Education: International Multisite Research Using Online Nominal Group Technique.

Background: Nurses should have appropriate education and required competencies to provide high-quality palliative care. The aim of this international multisite study was to list and evaluate core palliative care competencies that European nurses need to achieve in their education to provide palliative care. Methods: The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used as a data collection method. NGT meetings were organized in four European countries. Targeted groups of palliative care professionals with diverse contextual and professional backgrounds participated in the NGTs. The research question was: "What are the core competencies in palliative care that need to be achieved during undergraduate nursing education?" Data analysis was done in two stages: grouping the top 10 answers based on similarities and thematic synthesis based on all the ideas produced during the NGTs. Results: Palliative care core competencies based on the research were (1) competence in the characteristics of palliative care; (2) competence in decision-making and enabling palliative care; (3) symptom management competence in palliative care; (4) competence in holistic support in palliative care; (5) active person- and family-centered communication competence in palliative care; (6) competence in empathy in palliative care; (7) spiritual competence in palliative care; (8) competence in ethical and legal issues in palliative care; (9) teamwork competence in palliative care; and (10) self-awareness and self-reflection competence in palliative care. Conclusions: It was possible to find differences and similarities in the top 10 palliative care core competencies from different countries. Thematic synthesis of all the data showed that there were various competencies needed for nursing students to provide quality palliative care.

Dance performance as a method of intervention as experienced by older persons with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that dance can bring out the strength and resources of persons with dementia. PURPOSE: To describe for later evaluation how older persons with dementia experience dance performances in a nursing home. DESIGN: Four dance performances, based on the recollections the older persons had of different seasons, were arranged in one nursing home. METHODS: Qualitative descriptive study, with 13 older persons with dementia, four family members, seven nurses and three practical nurse students. Data were collected and analysed using methodological triangulation. RESULTS: Older persons identified dance performance activity as a process. They had a positive attitude towards the dance performance and performers, and they had experiences of different elements of the dance performance. The older persons forgot their ailments during the performances, and the performances evoked various emotions and awoke memories. Some of them had negative experiences of dancing and dance performances. The older persons experienced a common bond with other spectators. CONCLUSION: Watching a dance performance is an active process for older persons with dementia. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Reminiscence about the dance performance gives the older person an opportunity to deal with the experiences evoked by the performance.

Dance in mental health nursing: a hybrid concept analysis.

The aim of this concept analysis is to describe the defining attributes and consequences of the concept of dance and to define it in a mental health nursing context using hybrid concept analysis. Dance is a human resource learned from culture. Dance implies body movements, steps, expression, and interaction. The outcomes of dance are mostly functional, including a client's physical and emotional health, well-being, ability to cooperate with other people in activities of daily life, and meeting role expectations within family and community. Based on the findings of this concept analysis, dance can be used as a nursing intervention.