Nursing Students' Experiences with Patient Deaths during Clinical Practice

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students' experiences with patient deaths during clinical practice. Methods: The participants were ten nursing students who had experienced patient deaths during clinical nursing practice at a university hospital in Korea. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using the content analysis method suggested by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Results: The participants' experience was structured into six categories: experiencing various emotions in facing patient deaths, viewing oneself as a nursing student at the scene of a patient's death, thinking about death again, finding a pathway of understanding and support for patient death experiences, impressions and regret felt while actually observing terminal care, and picturing oneself as a future nurse dealing with a patient's death. Conclusion: Based on this study, stress management and self-reflection programs are suggested for nursing students who have experienced patient deaths. Practical nursing education for patient death and end of life care is also needed.