A qualitative exploratory study of nursing students' assessment of the contribution of palliative care learning.
OBJECTIVE
We explored the contribution of optional palliative care (PC) learning to the training of undergraduate nursing students.


METHODS
This is a qualitative, exploratory study.


METHODS
PC students from two universities (n=236) responded to the open question: What was the contribution of the PC course to your training?


METHODS
A thematic analysis of the respondents' answers was performed with investigator triangulation.


RESULTS
Four themes were identified. Firstly, the PC course provided a comprehensive view of the nursing discipline. Secondly, the course helped the students to know how to interact with, communicate with and better understand patients. Thirdly, the contribution of the course to the students' personal growth prompted them to reflect personally on death, thus promoting self-awareness. Finally, the students considered the PC course to be of great importance in the nursing curriculum.


CONCLUSIONS
Nursing students believed that a PC course was an essential component in their training, which contributed favourably to their personal and professional development.
University of Navarra, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), ATLANTES Research Program, Pamplona, Spain; Nursing Department of the University of Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: monba@enf.uva.es.
Montserrat
M
Ballesteros
University of Navarra, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), ATLANTES Research Program, Pamplona, Spain; University of Navarra, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Department of Palliative Medicine and Symptom Management, Pamplona, Spain. Electronic address: ccenteno@unav.es.
Carlos
C
Centeno
University of Navarra, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), ATLANTES Research Program, Pamplona, Spain; Faculty of Nursing, Pamplona, Spain. Electronic address: marantz@unav.es.
Maria
M
Arantzamendi
D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010166:Palliative Care; D065126:Palliative Medicine / Q000193:education*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012579:Schools, Nursing; D013030:Spain; D013338:Students, Nursing; D055815:Young Adult
Nursing education; Palliative care; Qualitative research; Student experience; Undergraduate