Attitudes of Senior Nursing Students Towards Ethical Issues for Palliative Care

Authors : Neriman Elibol, Aslıhan Akpinar

Pages : 419-427

Doi:10.31020/mutftd.1259658

View : 35 | Download : 57

Publication Date : 2023-05-30

Article Type : Research Article

Abstract :Objective: This study aimed to evaluate decisions of senior undergraduate nursing students on palliative care cases. Methods: The study was conducted with Kocaeli University Faculty of Health Sciences Nursing Department senior students in February 2018. The sample group consisted of 101 students who filled out the forms completely. Data were collected via the ‘Death Attitude Profile’, and ‘Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire’ and a questionnaire including open-ended "what would you do if you were the nurse” questions about five imaginary cases on ethical issues in palliative care. The thematic text analysis method was used to analyze the open‐ended questions. Results: Of the students participating in the study, 77 (76.2%) were female and 24 (23.8%) were male. A majority reported the necessity of respecting refusal of treatment (89.0%), do not resuscitate if it is futile (76.6%), protecting the patient from futile interventions (74.2%), pain management for patients in pain (71.4%), and telling the patient the truth (59.4%). However, 40.6% in truth telling case, 32.7% in the DNR case, 28.6% in pain management case, 20.6% in futile intervention case and 10.9% in refusal of treatment case reported that they would not do anything. Conclusion: Most of the nursing students’ attitudes towards cases were ethically appropriate. However, it is worrying that in some cases close to half of students would not take action. Thus, we suggest that in nursing education ethical issues regarding palliative care should be presented in a way that nurses would have the courage to take appropriate actions.
Keywords : hemşirelik öğrencileri, palyatif bakım, yaşam sonu, tıp etiği, hemşirelik etiği