Nursing Students’ Attitudes on Care of Dying ？ndividuals

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine nursing students' attitudes towards care of dying individuals. Research sample consisted of 161 students at 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade level among the nursing department students of a university. Data were collected using the descriptive information form and “Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying” Scale. Sixty percent of the nursing students stated that they are trained in end-of-life care. Forty six percent of nursing students stated that the attitude towards death is universal and that death should be regarded as natural phenomenon. There was a significant negative correlation between students’ age and their death-avoidance behavior. It has been determined that acceptance approach and death acceptance sub-dimensions of third grade students were lower than the other classes. In addition, scores of fear of death subscale were found higher than the other groups. Furthermore, those who didn’t have previous care experience in dying patients were found to have higher levels of impartial acceptance subscale scores than the other groups. Attitudes of the students towards the care of the dying individual were found to be moderate. It is important for nursing students more education opportunities to learn more about end-of-life care and to develop skills in looking after dying patients and their families