Rural Nursing and Quality End-of-Life Care: Palliative Care ... Palliative Approach ... or Somewhere In-Between?

Secondary analysis of data from two studies examining palliative care in rural areas was conducted with the aim to better understand how a nursing palliative approach influences quality outcomes at end-of-life. Nurses' ways of being that brought connection and comfort at end-of-life included paying attention to time, privacy, and family support. The rural context with its geography, relationships and unique resources influenced nurses' abilities to enact a palliative approach. Findings demonstrate that urban-centric models of palliative care do not fit well in rural nursing practice and highlight the importance of understanding the rural context.