title: Final-year nursing undergraduates' understandings of palliative care: a qualitative study in Wales, UK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With worldwide population ageing and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, government policies promoting palliative care, and evidence of disparate or even blurred conceptions of palliative care, it is important for educators and practitioners who support undergraduate nurses to establish how these students conceptualise palliative care. Today's students are tomorrow's nurses, and their understanding will shape the ways in which palliative care is integrated into their professional practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to explore nursing undergraduates' understandings of palliative care.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a larger qualitative study of palliative care for people with advanced dementia, 11 final-year adult-field nursing undergraduates' understandings of palliative care were explored through in-depth individual interviews. The data was subject to thematic content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis revealed that the participants were cognisant of the broad scope of palliative care. Moreover, they valued and appreciated compassionate comfort care and emotional support. However, their understanding was rather superficial and focused on the imminently dying phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings are positive as they indicate that the participants appreciated and valued compassionate person- and family-centred care. However, they also illuminate where undergraduate nurse education could be further enhanced.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor in Nursing, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, Wales.
authors.forename: Tessa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014852:Wales
keywords: Generalist; Nursing students; Palliative care; Perceptions; Qualitative research