Death and caring for dying patients: exploring first-year nursing students' descriptive experiences

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• End-of-Life Care
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• First-year nursing students' experiences with death and end-of-life care are critical developmental areas.
• Understanding these experiences informs educational strategies and support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the lived experiences of first-year nursing students witnessing death.
• To explore their engagement in providing end-of-life care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 17 first-year nursing students.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted.
• Thematic analysis, specifically 'a search for meaning,' was employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: death's anticipation vs. experience, approaching the dying, feelings of inadequacy, and confronting personal emotions.
• Students found the actual experience of death less daunting than the thought of it.
• Confronting personal feelings and perceived limitations in care were significant aspects of the experience.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students need ongoing support and opportunities for reflection throughout their education.
• Reflective practice, guided by educators and supervisors, is essential for building student confidence in end-of-life care.
• Addressing students' emotional responses and feelings of inadequacy is vital for their professional development.