Dealing with death: first encounters for first-year nursing students

End-of-life care, particularly for older people, is often sub-optimal in England, and the Government has introduced several initiatives to improve this care. The authors believe the twin frameworks of emotional labour and ethics of non-abandonment underpin the provision of high-quality care. This article discusses a research project that investigated first-year nursing students' encounters with patient deaths. The research found that, to the student, every death in clinical practice is a learning experience and potentially a source of emotional distress; some students reported experiencing flashbacks afterwards and were developing avoidance behaviours. Students sometimes felt unsupported by mentors and also felt that sometimes dying patients and families were inadequately cared for. The theme of abandonment was evident in the students' stories. The authors conclude that there is still room for improvement in end-of-life care. Good role modelling and pastoral care by mentors is vital to student development. Link lecturers and mentors need to be alert to student distress.