Changes in Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Perceptions About Caring for Dying Patients

Friday, 26 July 2019: 11:00 AM

Helen M. Taggart, PhD, RN
School of Nursing - Armstrong Campus, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, GA, USA
Pamela Mahan, PhD, RN
School of Nursing - Armstrong Campus, Ga Southern University, Savannah, GA, USA
Haresh Rochani, DrPH (BioStats)
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public health, Georgia Southern University, Savannah, GA, USA

Nurses play a key role in caring for the dying patients and families (ANA, 2016). The Institute of Medicine (2014) identified end-of-life care as a priority for quality improvement in the healthcare setting. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2017) and National League for Nursing 2018) call for inclusion of end-of-life care as a vital component of baccalaureate nursing education. Studies have reported on nursing student attitudes toward end-of-life care (Carmen et al., 2016; Conner, Loerzel, & Uddin, 2014; Max & MacKenzie, 2017). The Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD) scale is a validated tool used to measure nurses’ attitudes toward caring for the dying Frommelt, 1991). This tool has been validated and used in many studies (Carmen, et al., 2016; Lippe & Becker, 2015; Max & MacKenzie, 2017).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students toward caring for the dying at the beginning and end of a baccalaureate nursing program and factors that influence student perceptions. A multi method study was utilized to identify changes in attitude toward caring for the dying (measured by the FATCOD) and factors that impacted student perceptions (open-ended question). Methods: Baccalaureate nursing students were surveyed at the beginning and end of the nursing program. Results: Results include descriptive statistics for demographics (age, gender, previous experience in caring for the dying, current experience in caring for the dying). Linear regression demonstrated that total attitudes scores of baccalaureate nursing students at the beginning were lower than at the end of the nursing program (p=0.0001). Conclusion: This change indicates increased comfort in caring for the dying patient. Qualitative analysis for factors that influenced student attitudes about caring for the dying will be presented by themes.

This study aimed to determine student attitudes toward caring for the dying and factors that influence student perceptions. Results indicate a positive change in attitude between students at the beginning and end of the program. Factors that influence attitudes include personal life as well as experiences associated with the nursing education program. This study expands understanding of student perceptions about caring for the dying and provides a foundation for improvement in the education program. Implications for education, practice, and leadership will be discussed.

See more of: E 14
See more of: Research Sessions: Oral Paper & Posters