NURSING-STUDENTS EXPERIENCES CARING FOR DYING PATIENTS

Since the 1960s nurse educators have been searching for the most effec tive approach to prepare nursing students for care of the dying. Studi es investigating the effectiveness of death education programs for nur sing students have reported inconsistent findings. A phenomenological study was conducted to explore the meaning of 26 undergraduate nursing students' experiences in caring for dying patients. The nursing stude nts' written descriptions of their experiences were analyzed using Col aizzi's (1978) phenomenological method. Six themes emerged from this a nalysis. While caring for dying patients, nursing students experienced a gamut of emotions such as fear, sadness, frustration, and anxiety. Contemplation of the patient's life and death occurred as the students cared for their patients. In addition to providing physical, emotiona l, and spiritual support for dying patients, an integral part of nursi ng students' care involved supporting the patients' families. Helpless ness was experienced by the students regarding their role as patient a dvocates. While caring for dying patients, nursing students' learning nourished. Educational strategies for preparing nursing students to ca re for the dying are addressed based on the findings of this qualitati ve study.