A Phenomenological Study: Student Nurses' Perceptions of Care of the Dying in a Hospice-Based Facility

Despite emerging evidence of increased death education in nursing curricula, research suggests the graduate nurse is unprepared to effectively communicate and manage the array of symptoms experienced by the dying patient. This qualitative phenomenological research study's intent was to explore the impact of clinical experience in a community-based free-standing hospice facility as an effective pedagogical strategy for preparing student nurses to care for patients and families at the end of life (EOL). The researchers used descriptive phenomenology rooted in Husserl's philosophy. The qualitative data source included semistructured individual interviews. Convenience sampling yielded 10 senior-level nursing students in a community health nursing course. The analysis yielded 6 major themes: (1) fear of witnessing death, (2) contrasting care priorities in a hospice-dedicated versus acute care setting, (3) value of storytelling from hospice team members, (4) unprepared for EOL conversations, (5) guidance and support, and (6) benefit of hospice-dedicated experiential learning. The findings of this study support the use of expert hospice team members to guide and mentor students. Didactic and video-enhanced education, storytelling, preparation in EOL conversations, and experiential learning seem essential to familiarize students with EOL care and improve perceptions about caring for patients and their families.