This course will provide students with opportunities to develop depth and breadth of knowledge and skills in the nursing care of clients/patients and families at end of life. The course will examine paradigms that link traditional and non-traditional models of palliative and hospice care to the broader and deeper context of advanced illness in all developmental stages of life and living. The theoretical and research literature will be examined relating to issues such as: diversity of culture, gender, disability, spirituality, physical and psychosocial needs, rural vs. urban health care settings. Current research findings in nursing and related fields will be presented and discussed. Students will be encouraged to examine nurses' role with the interdisciplinary team. Students will be expected to demonstrate application of concepts.