PROFESSIONAL NEEDS OF PALLIATIVE CARE NURSES IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES

A survey of 108 palliative care nurses practising in New South Wales, Australia, was undertaken to explore their professional needs and clin ical knowledge. Opportunity for improved training was the most frequen tly nominated professional need. Only 12% of the sample had postgradua te qualifications in palliative care and fewer than 20% were currently undertaking postgraduate training. Sixty-three per cent of nurses ind icated that a lack of opportunity for formal study was a problem for t hem. The results of the knowledge survey revealed a need for additiona l training. Many nurses did not have the clinical knowledge identified as minimal by an expert committee. Those nurses who had a postgraduat e qualification in oncology scored more highly on the knowledge questi onnaire than did those whose general nursing training was undertaken o utside Australia. The implications of these findings for training and other professional support are discussed.