Course Code: REL-PAC-ELNEC-CMSPCULSI
Hours: 1.5
Type: Online Course
Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2029
Learning Objectives:
Identify dimensions of culture and spirituality that influence palliative care for patients across the life span.
Review components of a cultural and/or spiritual assessment of patients facing serious illness.
Recognize the value of interprofessional care in respecting cultural and spiritual diversity.
Outline:
Section 1: Culturally and Spiritually Sensitive Care
Importance of Cultural and Spiritual Considerations
Self-Assessment
Stop and Consider
Trends in Nursing
The Future of Nursing
Future Health Trends
Older Adults
Understanding Culture
The Five Cs of Culture
Cultural Sensitivity
Cultural Safety
Cultural Effectiveness
Cultural Arrogance
Cultural Distress
Exercise
Self-Cultural Assessment
How Culture Influences Illness and Death
The National Consensus Project Guidelines
Areas to Consider
Language About Death
Social Customs
Relationships
Decision-Making
Case Example
Developing Cultural Sensitivity and Humility
Determining Cultural Family Dynamics
Components of Cultural Assessment
Areas of Focus
Areas of Assessment
Remember
Brief Cultural Assessment: CONFHER Model
Review
Role of the Family and Caregivers
A Multitude of Family
Cultural Influences of Family in Decision-Making
Many Problems, Many Fears
Disclosure of Diagnosis and/or Prognosis
Social Determinants of Health in Serious Illness
Care of Patients Who Are LGBTQI+
Reflection Two: Gender Identity
Inclusive Interview Questions
A Blended Family
Developing a Plan of Care
Key Takeaways
Section 2: Cultural Diversity
The Nurse’s Role
Marginalized Populations
Individuals Experiencing Housing Insecurity
Individuals Who Are Incarcerated
Children
Older Adults
Individuals With Mental Illness
Individuals Who Are Immigrants and/or Refugees
Case Example
Gender Identification, Gender Expression, and Sexual Identity
Testimonial: Older Adults’ Decisions About Healthcare
Conducting a Culturally Sensitive Assessment
Safe Space
Conversational Style
Personal Space
Eye Contact
Touch
View of Healthcare Professionals
Teaching Materials and Learning Style
Interpreters for Patients Who Speak a Different Language From You
Language Used in Serious Illness
When Cultures Clash
Case Example
Spirituality and Religion
Spirituality
Religion
Examples of Spiritual Assessment
Spiritual Assessment
Key Points
Communication Pearls
Key Communication Phrases
Question for a Patient or Caregiver Who Is Not Religious
Questions/Statements That Prompt Intervention
Assessment Questions
Care Interventions
Case Example
APRN Consulting a Chaplain
Stop and Consider
Meet Mr. Li
Review
Key Takeaways
Section 3: Conclusion
Course Summary
Course Information
Course Contributors
Resources
Books
Translation Services: Free Apps or Websites
Resource Document
References
Subject Matter Expert: 2026 ELNEC Core Series
The content for this course was written by The ELNEC Project Team.
The ELNEC Project, which began in 2000, is a collaboration between City of Hope, Duarte, CA and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Washington, DC. For more information about ELNEC, go to www.aacnnursing.org/ELNEC
The content for this course was revised by Constance Dahlin, MSN, ANP-BC, ACHPN®, FPCN, FAAN.
Constance Dahlin has focused her career within hospice and palliative care. Connie serves as national faculty for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC). She has practiced palliative care across the health continuum: home, clinic, long-term care, rehabilitation, and acute care settings. She has administered hospice, home health, and palliative care programs. She has created education for program development, academic curricula, and interprofessional team education.
Currently, Ms. Dahlin is a palliative nurse practitioner at MGB Salem Hospital. She is faculty at University of Maryland Baltimore PhD, MS, and Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care. She is a consultant and senior nurse advisor to the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) with a focus on community-based care and education. She is co-director of the Palliative APP Externship at the Medical University of South Carolina. She serves on the American Hospital Association Circle of Life Award Committee, the Massachusetts Network for Community-Based Care, and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Steering Committee.
Ms. Dahlin has authored many peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and curricula. She has presented nationally and internationally. Ms. Dahlin is co-editor of the Oxford University Press Advanced Practice Palliative Nursing 1st and 2nd editions. She edited and authored four editions of the Palliative Nursing: Scope and Standards and three editions of the Competencies for the Palliative and Hospice RN, and APRN. She wrote the Hospice and Palliative APRN Professional Practice Guide and A Primer of Reimbursement, Billing, and Coding: Essential Information for the Hospice and Palliative APRN. She referenced the 2004 first education of the National Consensus Project’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Palliative Care and edited the 2009 and 2013 editions.
Ms. Dahlin is a Fellow of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, a 2005 Certified ACHPN APRN of the year, a 2016 Sojourns Cambia Health Foundation Sojourns Leadership Scholar Award Recipient, a 2018 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Visionary in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, the 2020 Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association Distinguished Practice Award and the 2021 University of Maryland Baltimore Program in Palliative Care Teacher of the Year. She completed her MSN in oncology nursing and her post-masters in adult primary care at the MGH Institute of Health Professions.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Advanced Practice Nurses; Nursing Personnel; in the following settings: Hospice.
Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.
Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.
All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.
To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.
Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.