Enhancing hospital nurses' knowledge of palliative care: a network nurse programme.

The palliative care network nurse programme was developed to educate and skill generalist nurses in the care of the dying patient within the acute hospital setting. It developed at the request of nurses who had been involved in the piloting of the Liverpool Care of the Dying Pathway. The programme consists of a monthly meeting that encompasses an educative component and networking opportunities. In a preliminary evaluation of the programme, a questionnaire was sent to the network nurses (response rate 80%, n = 33). The nurses reported the programme to be beneficial in providing them with increased palliative care knowledge. Support and networking opportunities were also identified. This article discusses the programme, the evaluation findings and makes suggestions for further research.