Student nurses' experience of their first death in clinical practice

It is important to understand how student nurses might feel when confronted with a dying patient, so that appropriate support and education can be offered prior to their placement. This paper aimed to explore student nurses' experiences of their first death in clinical practice to help identify educational, training, and support needs.

A qualitative phenomenological approach was adopted and data was collected using a focus group involving five student nurse participants.

The data analysis revealed four themes: the emotional influence of death, skills required, the role of the mentor, and relationships. The students' experiences of their first death in clinical practice caused them considerable anxiety, and they reported feeling inadequately prepared for the reality of the situation.

Educationalists and clinicians alike should give much consideration to finding teaching and learning methods that are appropriate to this challenging subject and that more effectively prepare students for what they might encounter.