“It was the first time someone had died before my eyes…”: A qualitative study on the first death experiences of nursing students

Abstract

BackgroundAccompanying a person at their death is a common experience in nurse education. In addition to all death experiences that are a meaningful part of the nursing profession, the first death experience is very important. However, there is limited understanding of nursing students' first death experiences. ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore nursing students' experiences of the death of a person for the first time during clinical practice. DesignThis study was conducted as a qualitative study using a phenomenological design. ParticipantsA total of 17 nursing students participated in this study. MethodsData were collected through online individual in-depth interviews and were analyzed using content analysis. ResultsFour main themes and eleven sub-themes emerged. The themes were meaning of death (first death, a part of life), process management (death information, physical environment, bad news), after death (empty bed, questioning, death with dignity) and education (curriculum, support, professional perception). ConclusionsWhile the first experience of death provides an opportunity for students to learn, this experience reveals various negative emotions and the need for support.