What Intern Nursing Students in Turkey Think About Death and End-of-Life Care? A Qualitative Exploration

Abstract

This descriptive qualitative study was planned to determine the views of intern nursing students about death and end-of-life care. The study was completed with 12 intern students based on the criterion of data saturation. As a result of the study, the categories of 'end,' 'uncertainty,' 'fear,' 'beginning,' 'helplessness' under the theme of death, 'ensuring peace,' 'continuing communication' 'providing psychosocial/ spiritual support,' 'acting in conformity with principles of ethics/morality,' 'continuing to provide physical care,' 'supporting the family,' 'making the best use of the limited remaining time or helping the patient's last wishes come true' under the theme of end-of-life care emerged.

Intern nursing students’ perceived barriers to providing end-of-life care for dying cancer patients in a death taboo cultural context: A qualitative study

“…4 , 5 However, this would not always warrant satisfactory results of their services in providing end-of-life care to dying patients and the bereavement of family members 6 , 7 due to a range of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual challenges. 8 , 9 …”

Nursing students’ attitudes towards cancer and affecting factors in Turkey: A descriptive study

“…There are limited studies determining the attitudes of nursing students towards cancer. Studies have shown that nurses and nursing students have pessimistic attitudes towards cancer and cancer-related pain and death (Sanford et al, 2011;King-Okoye and Arber, 2014;Uysal et al, 2019;Köktürk Dalcali and Taş, 2021). Determining the attitudes towards cancer and improving those attitudes using appropriate interventions will not only increase the quality of care, but also contribute to the holistic care provided to the patient and the determination of patients' spiritual needs.…”

Nursing Students' Intention to Work in Hospice Care in the Future

“…Death anxiety is a conscious or unconscious psychological state that appears because of feeling threatened by death and is a defense mechanism 19 . Sociocultural variables, individual belief systems, spirituality, or religious beliefs can affect how people perceive death 20-23 …”

“…Studies reveal that students often view death negatively 17 and are fearful of witnessing death 24 . Moreover, they may have personal fears of death 21 . There is evidence that these negative feelings may be improved by positive clinical experiences 18 .…”

“…19 Sociocultural variables, individual belief systems, spirituality, or religious beliefs can affect how people perceive death. [20][21][22][23] Studies reveal that students often view death negatively 17 and are fearful of witnessing death. 24 Moreover, they may have personal fears of death.…”