Supervising in the presence of death: A qualitative study of registered nurses’ experiences of supervising undergraduate nursing students in palliative care

• Supervisors support student preparedness, knowledge, experiences, and expectations. • Supervision in EoL care balances student learning with patient and family safety. • Supervisors adapt teaching methods with consideration for student well-being. Nursing students often feel unprepared for end-of-life care, and education, and clinical experience can enhance their confidence. Clinical supervisors are crucial in this process, yet knowledge of their experiences is limited. To explore supervisors’ experiences of tutoring undergraduate nursing students in the care of dying patients. A qualitative study with individual semi-structured interviews with eight registered nurses. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Themes: adapting supervision to student preparedness; equipping students; and nurturing wings for secure exploration were identified. The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of palliative care supervision and highlight the need to tailor support to students’ levels, experiences, and expectations through reflection, preparation, end-of-life care knowledge, and emotional coping skills. It shows how supervisors foster student growth while maintaining safety for students, patients, families, and themselves. Supervisors support both students’ learning and well-being while balancing patient and family safety. They play a key role in preparing future healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality end-of-life care.