Purpose: Palliative care is an essential aspect of healthcare, particularly for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Nurses play a crucial role in the provision of palliative care. In regions such as Jharkhand, India, where palliative care services are still developing, it is important to assess the level of preparedness among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. This study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge of and attitudes nurses in Jharkhand toward palliative care. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 200 registered nurses working in government and private healthcare facilities in Jharkhand were included in this study. A structured questionnaire comprising demographic questions, 20 knowledge-based multiple-choice questions, and a 30-item attitude scale was used for data collection. Results: Most nurses (57%) demonstrated moderate knowledge of palliative care, and 79% of the participants showed a positive attitude toward palliative care. Nurses with palliative care training and more than five years of experience were significantly more likely to have adequate knowledge (odds ratio [OR]=4.52, P=0.001; OR=3.85, P=0.002).Nurses of Jharkhand had more positive attitudes toward palliative care when they had more education (OR=4.82, P=0.040) and worked in government healthcare facilities (OR=2.63, P=0.007). Conclusion This study emphasizes the need for structured education and training programs, especially in government facilities, to improve nurses’ knowledge and prepare them to provide comprehensive palliative care. Enhancing nursing education and offering regular professional development opportunities are essential to improve the overall quality of palliative care delivery in the region.

Allaying anxiety and providing calm children in the operating room is a challenging task for anesthesiologists. This study was designed to compare the use of nebulized dexmedetomidine and ketamine for premedication in pediatric patients under general anesthesia. Methods: Seventy patients, aged 2 to 8 years of both sexes, with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I/II scheduled for hernia repair surgery under general anesthesia, were randomized to two equal groups using a computer-generated random number table. Patients in group D received dexmedetomidine (2 µg/kg), and patients in group K received ketamine (2 mg/kg) by a jet nebulizer before the induction of anesthesia. The study’s primary objective was comparing the level of sedation, which was achieved at 30 min after a study drug administration using the Ramsay sedation scale, between the two groups. The secondary objectives were the two-group comparison of parental separation anxiety scale, acceptance of the mask, hemodynamic variables, recovery time, incidence of emergence agitation, and adverse events. Results: The median Ramsay sedation scale at 30 min was 3 (1–4) in group D and 3 (1–3) in group K (P = 0.002). Patients in group D had a more acceptable parental separation anxiety scale (P = 0.001) and a satisfactory mask acceptance scale (P = 0.042). Conclusions: Nebulized dexmedetomidine (2 µg/kg) provided better sedation along with smooth parental separation and satisfactory mask acceptance during induction of anesthesia with a similar emergence agitation profile and adverse reactions compared to nebulized ketamine in pediatric patients.