Professional Quality of Life

Principal investigator
Kelly Penz, PhD, RN,
College of Nursing,
University of Saskatchewan

A survey of the Professional Quality of Life of RNs who provide Palliative and End of Life Care.

The ‘Professional Quality of Life of Nurses who Provide Palliative and End of Life Care’ is an online survey study about the work life of Registered Nurses (RNs) who care for people with life-limiting illnesses and those who are dying.

Why are we doing this study?

In her past clinical practice as a RN, Kelly Penz was fortunate to work with many patients (and their family members) who were receiving palliative and end of life (P/EOL) care. Although, provision of care within this context is highly rewarding, the mental/emotional toll experienced by nurses who are working to meet the complex needs of a growing palliative population has been largely overlooked. We are interested in understanding the ‘Professional Quality of Life’ of these essential practitioners in all areas of practice and geographical settings in Saskatchewan.

Why Should You Participate?

Nurses who work in hospitals, community settings, long-term care, and other practice settings are front-line caregivers involved in palliative and end of life care delivery. Even when faced with limited resources, they work selflessly in both rural and urban settings to ensure their patients receive the best quality care possible. The problem is that the context of their practice in Saskatchewan is largely invisible and there is minimal research data on this important area of practice.

The Research Team

The Principal Investigator, Dr. Kelly Penz, is a Registered Nurse and an Assistant Professor with the College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan. She was born and raised in a rural community in Saskatchewan and is interested in the health and wellbeing of nurses who practice in this beautiful province. Her developing program of research focuses on the psychosocial wellness of health care professionals, especially those who practice in the area of palliative and end of life care in both urban and rural/remote settings. Main themes of her research include ‘professional quality of life’, models of job demands and job resources for health care professionals, health service delivery and primary health care, work engagement and burnout, and rural/remote nursing practice.