When is it okay to cry? An end-of-life simulation experience

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• Integrating end-of-life care education is crucial for nursing students.
• Traditional methods may not fully prepare students for the emotional and practical aspects of postmortem care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the integration of end-of-life care education into a megacode simulation.
• To evaluate the impact of this simulation on nursing students' skills and comfort levels.

Main Methods:

• A high-fidelity megacode simulation was conducted where the patient simulator 'died'.
• Post-simulation debriefing was followed by a second scenario focusing on postmortem care and family interaction.
• Faculty coached students through interactions with a simulated family member and hospital chaplain.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated enhanced skills in basic life-saving measures.
• Knowledge of and comfort with postmortem care significantly increased.
• Students reported heightened awareness of the emotions associated with end-of-life care.

Conclusions:

• Multidimensional, interprofessional simulation is an effective strategy for teaching end-of-life care.
• This approach improves clinical skills, knowledge, and emotional preparedness in nursing students.
• Simulation-based education can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in critical care scenarios.