Nursing Students' Attitudes and Experiences Toward End-of-Life Care: A Mixed Methods Study Using Simulation

Background: The lack of discourse regarding end-of-life care is noted in nursing education although nurses are expected to provide end-of-life care. Patient deaths are a cause of distress and impact nurses' provision of quality care. Simulation can improve comfort regarding providing end-of-life care. Sample: Participants in the study were 17 nursing students enrolled in a BSN program in the southeast United States. Method: Qualitative data generated an understanding of nursing students' provision of care in a simulated environment to an individual who was actively dying. A 12-item Likert scale survey provided quantitative data. Results: Identified themes were (a) unknown territory, (b) dignity by knowing the patient, (c) preparation, and (d) communication. Quantitative data supported the themes. Conclusions: End-of-life care is multifaceted as this study identified concerns regarding caring for an individual and the family member. These concerns may prevent the provision of best practice care. The identification of students' concerns can assist a nurse educator plan and convey best practice for endof- life care. (C) 2017 International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.