End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium

End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium

The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) is a national education initiative to improve palliative care. The project provides training for nurses on how to care for patients at the end of life. ELNEC was established in 2000 and is a collaborative effort between the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the City of Hope National Medical Center.

History

The ELNEC project was initiated in response to the growing need for better end-of-life care in the United States. The program was developed with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Cancer Institute. Since its inception, ELNEC has trained thousands of nurses and other healthcare professionals across the country.

Objectives

The primary objectives of ELNEC are to:

• Improve the quality of palliative care and hospice care.
• Provide nurses with the knowledge and skills necessary to care for patients at the end of life.
• Promote the integration of palliative care into nursing education and practice.

Curriculum

The ELNEC curriculum covers a wide range of topics essential for end-of-life care, including:

• Pain management
• Symptom management
• Communication skills
• Ethical and legal issues
• Cultural considerations
• Grief and bereavement

The curriculum is designed to be flexible and can be adapted to various educational settings, including undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, as well as continuing education for practicing nurses.

Training Programs

ELNEC offers several specialized training programs, including:

• ELNEC-Core: The foundational course for all nurses.
• ELNEC-Pediatric Palliative Care: Focused on the unique needs of children and their families.
• ELNEC-Critical Care: Designed for nurses working in intensive care units.
• ELNEC-Geriatric: Tailored for nurses caring for older adults.

Impact

The ELNEC project has had a significant impact on the field of nursing and palliative care. It has helped to standardize end-of-life care education and has been instrumental in improving the quality of care for patients with serious illnesses. The program has also been adopted internationally, extending its reach and influence beyond the United States.

Related Pages

• Palliative care
• Hospice care
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• City of Hope National Medical Center
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• National Cancer Institute