Educating nurses to care for the dying in Hong Kong: a problem-based learning approach

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Palliative Care
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• Nurses often experience discomfort and inadequacy when caring for dying patients and their families.
• Effective death education is crucial for equipping nurses with necessary skills and emotional resilience.
• Existing nursing education may not adequately prepare professionals for the complexities of end-of-life care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a problem-based learning (PBL) approach in death education for registered nurses.
• To explore how PBL influences nurses' self-awareness, communication abilities, and care planning for dying patients.
• To identify specific learning needs and cultural considerations in end-of-life nursing care within the Hong Kong context.

Main Methods:

• A problem-based learning (PBL) strategy was implemented using three cancer nursing scenarios.
• Registered nurses in Hong Kong participated in the PBL process, documenting their learning in journals.
• Qualitative analysis, including within-case and cross-case analysis, was used to examine 72 sets of journals.

Main Results:

• Nurses demonstrated increased acknowledgment of their emotions related to death and dying.
• A significant need for enhanced communication and counseling skills among nurses was identified.
• The study highlighted the importance of a holistic, family-centered approach to palliative care.
• Cultural factors, particularly within the Chinese context, were recognized as vital in end-of-life care planning.

Conclusions:

• Problem-based learning is an effective strategy for improving nurses' self-awareness and competence in death education.
• PBL stimulates nurses to develop comprehensive care plans addressing physical, psychological, and social needs of dying patients.
• Nursing education must integrate cultural sensitivity to effectively address diverse patient and family needs in end-of-life care.