Attitudes of Nursing Students Toward the Dying Patient

A questionnaire to measure attitudes toward death and dying persons was administered to 108 freshmen and 69 seniors in a baccalaureate nursing program. Compared to freshmen, the responses of senior students indicated greater acceptance of feelings, more open communication, and broader flexibility in relating to dying patients and their families. These differences were statistically significant (p = .01). A nursing curriculum is described which provided experiences in caring for dying patients; classes on loss, grief, and death; small group discussions and the availability of one-to-one counseling for students who take care of dying patients.