Effects of a community-based hospice experience on attitudes and self-perceived competencies of baccalaureate senior...

Educational programs preparing nurses have devoted little time in the curricula to the care of the dying patient and the grieving family.

An experimental design was used to determine the effects of a 2-day hospice experience on the attitudes and competencies of 61 baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in their final semester. Measures included an end-of-life attitudes survey, an end-of-life competency survey, and student reflections.

Mean scores changed significantly after the hospice experience, suggesting a positive attitude change as a result of the intervention. Although mean scores in competency changed, these were not statistically significant. Student reflections supported attitude changes about end-of-life care and improved competencies.

Although the experience seemed to make a difference, larger samples and longer exposure to the care of the dying are needed to more accurately assess the impact of a hospice experience on student attitudes and competencies related to end-of-life care. [J Nurs Educ. 2015;54(6):335-338.].