Çekiç Y, Çalişkan BB, Küçük Öztürk G, Kaya Meral D, Bağ B. "It was the first time someone had died before my eyes…": A qualitative study on the first death experiences of nursing students.
NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 2024;
133:106075. [PMID:
38134812 DOI:
10.1016/j.nedt.2023.106075]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Accompanying a person at their death is a common experience in nurse education. In addition to all death experiences that are a meaningful part of the nursing profession, the first death experience is very important. However, there is limited understanding of nursing students' first death experiences.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to explore nursing students' experiences of the death of a person for the first time during clinical practice.
DESIGN
This study was conducted as a qualitative study using a phenomenological design.
PARTICIPANTS
A total of 17 nursing students participated in this study.
METHODS
Data were collected through online individual in-depth interviews and were analyzed using content analysis.
RESULTS
Four main themes and eleven sub-themes emerged. The themes were meaning of death (first death, a part of life), process management (death information, physical environment, bad news), after death (empty bed, questioning, death with dignity) and education (curriculum, support, professional perception).
CONCLUSIONS
While the first experience of death provides an opportunity for students to learn, this experience reveals various negative emotions and the need for support.
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