Nursing students’ perceptions and coping in end-of-life situations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5902/2179769288803Keywords:
Students, Nursing, Education, Nursing, Death, Attitude to Death, Terminal CareAbstract
Objective: to understand nursing students’ perceptions, feelings, and coping strategies when caring for patients at the end of life. Method: qualitative, descriptive-exploratory study. From June to November 2021, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 nursing students. Data were analyzed using discursive textual analysis. Results: three categories emerged: (1) Nursing students’ perceptions and feelings about patients’ death and dying in end-of-life care; (2) Nursing students’ coping strategies when caring for patients at the end of life and at the time of death; and (3) Teaching about death and end of life in undergraduate nursing education. Conclusion: nursing curricula should include teaching on compassionate communication and the management of suffering and end-of-life symptoms. Providing emotional support and teaching coping strategies can better prepare students for end-of-life care.
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