The experiences of nursing students participating in a student death doula service-learning program in palliative care settings: A qualitative study

Abstract

Nursing students desire more training and experience in palliative care due to a need for more skills and knowledge. This descriptive qualitative study explored nursing students’ experiences in participating in a student death doula service-learning program in palliative care settings. Fourteen final-year undergraduate nursing students participated in semi-structured focus group discussions via Zoom. Four focus group discussions were conducted. Six themes with 19 subthemes were developed: (1) initial feelings of fear and uncertainty, (2) death doula training and orientation, (3) palliative wards being a happier place than expected, (4) experience of watching their patients deteriorate over time, (5) benefits of participating in service-learning in palliative care settings, and (6) improving the service-learning experience. The program was well received by the nursing students, who recommended incorporating it into the nursing curriculum to enhance palliative nursing education. Additional refinements were proposed to better support nursing students during service-learning.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the nursing students for participating in the study. We are also grateful to the nursing staff at St. Andrew’s Community Hospital and Dover Park Hospice for their assistance and mentorship provided to the nursing students during their service-learning experience.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Center for Development of Teaching & Learning (CDTL) Teaching Enhancement Grant FY2021 at the National University of Singapore.