Death, dying and caring: exploring the student nurse experience of palliative and end-of-life education

Background: Undergraduate education and training are fundamental in preparing student nurses for working in palliative and end-of-life care. Aim: This article explores the experiences of student nurses in their palliative and end-of-life undergraduate nurse education. Methodology: Sandelowski and Barroso’s (2007) framework for undertaking a metasynthesis was used. Initial database searches returned 60 articles of interest. Re-reading the articles in the context of the research question identified 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Four key themes emerged. Findings: Student nurses voiced concerns regarding their feelings of unpreparedness, and lack of confidence and knowledge when dealing with the complexities of palliative and end-of-life care. Student nurses called for more training and education in palliative and end-of-life care. Conclusion: Flexible nursing curricula responsive to the needs of student nurses and the changing landscape of healthcare provision, including care to ensure a good death experience, should be prioritised at undergraduate level.