Student Nurses’ Preparedness for End-of-Life Care : Descriptive Literature Review

Abstract

Death and dying is a reality of life and it is a vital part of nursing care. However, not all nurses are primed in delivering end-of-life care, especially student nurses. End-of-life care (EOLC) is providing suitable tend to dying patients caused by advanced chronic diseases. It occurs during the last few weeks or months before an unavoidable illness related demise. Student nurses observed the pain and anxiety of the patient and could bring various mixed emotions and uncertainty for care. Hence, the purpose of this study was to describe the student nurses’ preparedness for end-of-life care. The aim of this study was to produce new knowledge that can be utilized to improve student nurses’ preparedness for end-of-life care. Moreover, a qualitative methodology was utilized in this bachelor’s thesis and an overview of descriptive literature was conducted. The twelve articles which were employed in this study were strategically searched through credible databases including CINAHL, PubMed, Medline based on the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data gathered by analysis of content inductively to extract the result. Furthermore, the results identified educational interventions, identifying patient’s and family’s goals for EOLC, positive attitude and behavior, and emotional training as factors affecting student nurses’ preparedness for end-of-life care. Meanwhile, theoretical knowledge assessment on death and dying, educational interventions, palliative and end-of-life care training, clinical experience and reflection in debriefing as ways on how student nurses were educationally prepared for end-of-life care. In conclusion, this bachelor’s thesis has accentuated the necessity of enhanced education, training and clinical exposure in end-of-life care to ensure that undergraduates can deliver compassionate along with effective care during these challenging moments by addressing and improving knowledge of nursing students on the factors that influence preparedness, and implementing comprehensive educational programs.

Keywords: student nurse, end of life care, preparedness

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