Literature Review

Developing competencies to advance health care access and quality for Latino, Hispanic, and Spanish origin populations-A consensus statementJAMA Network Open; by Débora H. Silva, John A. Davis Rodríguez, Hector Rasgado-Flores, Pilar Ortega, Deion Ellis, Fernando Sánchez Mendoza, Victor Cueto, Fabiola Quintero-Rivera, Norma Iris Poll-Hunter, Minerva Romero Arenas, Kenneth Lee Dominguez, Juan Emilio Carrillo, José E. Rodríguez, John Paul Sánchez; 8/25Question: What competencies and milestones are essential for advancing health equity for Latina, Latino, Latinx, Latine, Hispanic, and Spanish Origin (LHS+) populations? Since the 1970s, the LHS+ population has increased 6-fold and grown to be the largest ethnic or racial group in the US and accounts for approximately 20% of the US population. The LHS+ health equity competencies and milestones resulting from this study add to prior work by creating a blueprint for standardization and broader application of such educational experiences on a national level. As a tool to enhance CBME [competency-based medical education ] efforts aligned with care for LHS+ populations, the competencies may aid educators and institutions through an LHS+–informed lens in conducting gap analyses for the development of local curricula, developing teaching and assessment materials, supporting the professional development of learners and faculty, and facilitating educational scholarship. 

Implementing education for community adult hospice nurses to expand pediatric hospice and palliative careJournal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing; by Shelly C Wenzel; 8/25Pediatric hospice and palliative patients require specially-trained clinicians to provide holistic support in areas such as disease progression, illness trajectory, and goals of care. An asynchronous online educational module, including a pre- and postmodule survey, was developed to provide education on timely pediatric quality-of-life conversations and skills for nurses who work with the adult population. Following the education module, participants reported an increase in comfort from 25% to 93.3% and willingness from 59% to 93.3%. Additionally, postmodule confidence level increased to 94%. These findings suggest an asynchronous educational module approach benefits the needs of community-based adult hospice and palliative nurses and gains learned from this module may enhance nurse skill and improve access to care.

UPDATED: CMS confirms launch of $75M nursing home staff training fund McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 9/9/25 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz has announced that his agency is moving forward with $75 million in funding to support a long-awaited tuition reimbursement and training program for nursing home staff. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz has announced that his agency is moving forward with $75 million in funding to support a long-awaited tuition reimbursement and training program for nursing home staff. ... Reaction to the update Tuesday was varied ... noting that the spending could amount to about $5,000 per US nursing home.

Raising the standard of Arizona’s dementia care Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 9/7/25 Arizona is setting a bold new standard to better support families impacted by dementia. A groundbreaking state mandate requires all memory care facilities to provide up to 12 hours of specialized dementia training to their staff, plus four hours of continuing education each year. This extensive training combines online video modules with hands-on, in-person skills sessions. Hospice of the Valley’s experienced Dementia Team is leading the way as one of the agencies the Arizona Department of Health Services has approved to deliver this comprehensive training. The nonprofit organization is unique in offering it as a free community service.

Training and practice gaps in nursing home palliative care: A cross-sectional study Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS); by Manali Saraiya, Molly A. Nowels, Rose L. Carlson, Jerad H. Moxley, Catherine A. Riffin, Evan Plys, M. Carrington Reid, Isabella Hastings, Taimur Mirza, Ronald D. Adelman, Daniel Shalev; 9/7/25 We conducted a cross-sectional survey of clinical employees (N = 398) at seven NHs within a single integrated health system in New York State to (1) gauge attitudes toward and knowledge about palliative care, (2) estimate the extent of engagement with advance care planning, and (3) elicit perceptions of the most valuable components of palliative care for NH residents. ... Despite support for palliative care, gaps in knowledge and clinical engagement persist and vary by discipline. Discipline-tailored training and program design may improve palliative care delivery in NHs and help ensure more consistent, value-aligned care for residents with serious illness.

College of Nursing receives $1.8m gift from Mark Bruce Swillinger Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL; by Kristine Gobbo; 9/2/25 Florida Atlantic University's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing has received a $1.5 million gift from Mark Bruce Swillinger in memory of his wife, Marilyn Lee Swillinger, to establish an endowed professorship in hospice and palliative care nursing. The Mark Bruce and Marilyn Lee Swillinger Endowed Professor will expose nursing students to specialized studies in hospice and palliative care throughout their nursing education.

Why palliative care is more than just end-of-life support MedPageToday's KevinMD.com; by Dr. Vishal Parackal; 9/1/25 ... Palliative care as a system requires strong interpersonal and cross-specialty communication for smooth functioning, as patients may require expert opinions from different fields to optimize their treatment plan. Patient education for systemic follow-ups and establishing a baseline of knowledge regarding their diagnosis and potential danger signs helps create a better environment for holistic care. While we focus on the physical aspects of care and diagnosis, we often fail to realize the psychological and mental impact that such conditions can have on the patient and their family. ... The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives by easing their suffering and enhancing their quality of life is profoundly fulfilling. ... Editor's Note: Excellent descriptions of palliative care.

Make training more effective with microlearning and AI Training Industry; by David Resendes; 8/20/25 When people think of microlearning, it’s often viewed as a tool for reinforcement of longer form training, something used after the main event to help employees retain what they’ve learned. And while microlearning is incredibly effective in that role, it’s time to expand that view. ... More organizations are using microlearning as the primary delivery mechanism for critical learning content. When designed intentionally, it’s one of the most engaging, effective ways to introduce concepts, drive early understanding and encourage immediate application.

Mark Swillinger makes $1.5m donation to FAU College of Nursing Boca Magazine, Boca Raton, FL; by Christiana Lilly; 8/13/25 What was expected to be a typical speech turned into one that called for a round of applause: A $1.5 million donation would be made to Florida Atlantic University College of Nursing by local attorney Mark Swillinger in honor of his late wife, Marilyn. The announcement came during FAU President Adam Hasner’s speech at the 15th annual White Coats-4-Care reception at The Addison, an event that supports FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. ... Not only is it a hefty amount, but the donation will create a hospice and palliative care program in FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. Swillinger says he was inspired after seeing the attentive care his wife received in 2023, when she died from lung cancer.

Integrating advance care planning into end-of-life education: Nursing students’ reflections on advance health care directive and Five Wishes assignmentsNursing Reports; by Therese Doan, Sumiyo Brennan; 7/25Advance care planning tools, such as the Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) and Five Wishes, provide experiential learning opportunities [for prelicensure nursing students] that bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world patient advocacy. In this study, students were asked to complete either the AHCD or Five Wishes document as though planning for their own end-of-life care, encouraging personal reflection and professional insight. Students developed critical insights into their personal values, envisioned themselves in EOL scenarios, and reflected on their responsibility as future nurses. The assignment fostered both professional development and personal growth, making it a meaningful experience within the nursing curriculum. By encouraging students to engage personally with end-of-life decisions, the assignment cultivates empathy, ethical reflection, and a readiness to initiate sensitive conversations.

Simulation, flipped classroom, and reflective dialogue in socioemotional training in end-of-life care: Perspectives of nursing students Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing (HPNA); by María Lanza, Rebeca Abajas, Mar Aparicio Aparicio, Ángeles Melero, Carmen Ortego; 8/1/25The implementation of active methodologies in end-of-life education can play a crucial role in stimulating participatory learning and facilitating the acquisition of socioemotional competencies. ... From the students’ perspective, simulation, reflective dialogue, and flipped classroom enhance the conceptual learning process and facilitate students’ socioemotional preparation to face this complex and challenging professional situation. Editor's Note: Today’s tech-savvy nursing students show that simulation, reflective dialogue, and flipped classrooms build the person-centered qualities hospice and palliative care need. Use these methods—inside and outside the classroom—to improve patient/family care, teamwork, and self-care. For more information: 

Demographic variations and temporal trends in hospice and palliative care fellowship matches in the United States Scientific Reports; by Aman Goyal, Samuel L. Flesner, Urooj Shamim, Sonia Hurjkaliani, Priya Goyal, Mohamed Daoud & Amir Humza Sohail; 8/8/25 ... In summary, the number of Hospice and Palliative Care fellowship training programs, positions, and applicants increased. Female applicants, compared to males, and White applicants, relative to their representation in all fellowships, accounted for a larger proportion of applications and had higher match rates. ... Future research should focus on initiatives to address challenges such as the underrepresentation of certain demographics in palliative care and the growing demand for trained professionals as the population ages. 

[United Kingdom] Hospice staff learn life-saving skillsehospice, UK Edition, Derbyshire, UK; 7/26/25 Treetops Hospice is upskilling all its staff, from nurses to fundraisers, with essential life-saving skills, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillator use, through Basic Life Saving (BLS) training. The hospice, based in Risley, Derbyshire, welcomes hundreds of people through its doors every year. The rollout of the vital BLS training programme reflects the simple truth that anyone, anywhere, can face a medical emergency. ... Phil Shreeve, Director of Clinical Services, explained, “Just because we provide end-of-life care doesn’t mean we ignore medical emergencies.  We have a lot of people on site, including patients, families and carers, staff and volunteers, and even the general public who can walk around our grounds.