Evolution of the emotional impact of death and the dying process in student nurses
Section: Teaching
How to quote
López González JM et ál. Evolución del impacto emocional de la muerte y el proceso de morir en estudiantes de Enfermería . Metas de Enferm sep 2011; 14(7): 62-66
Authors
1Juan Manuel López González, 2Luis Cibanal Juan
Position
1 Máster en Ciencias de la Enfermería. Profesor Asociado de Fundamentos de Enfermería de la Universidad San Pablo CE
Contact address
Juan Manuel López González. C/ Gregorio Ortiz, 21, 2º A. 28021 Madrid.
Contact email: inigomontolla777@gmail.com
Abstract
Objectives: to identify the degree of concern/anxiety present in first year student nurses in relation to their own death, their own dying process, the dying of others and to determine the course of these aspects at the end of their studies.
Material and methods: longitudinal study in a target population of first and third year student nurses of the same promotion (2007-2010), registered at the School of Nursing of the University San Pablo CEU, integrated as part of the Hospital Central de la Defensa “Gómez Ulla” in Madrid. The sample studied coincides with the accessible one and was assessed at two different moments in time, in the first year (n = 47) and in the third year (n = 39). In both cases, the Spanish adaptation of the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale was used.
Results and conclusions: a higher degree of anxiety was observed in aspects relating to “the own dying process” and “the dying of others” (being loved), in which in addition no decrease occurred over time. In relation to “their own death” and the “dying process of others”, a significant decrease of the degree of concern/anxiety was indeed observed (p < 0,05) at the completion of their career.
These results lead us to think of the need to prevent the stressing effect that the impact of these experiences of pain and death have on the students during their training period, thus allowing us to carry out an individualised follow up of these students.
Material and methods: longitudinal study in a target population of first and third year student nurses of the same promotion (2007-2010), registered at the School of Nursing of the University San Pablo CEU, integrated as part of the Hospital Central de la Defensa “Gómez Ulla” in Madrid. The sample studied coincides with the accessible one and was assessed at two different moments in time, in the first year (n = 47) and in the third year (n = 39). In both cases, the Spanish adaptation of the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale was used.
Results and conclusions: a higher degree of anxiety was observed in aspects relating to “the own dying process” and “the dying of others” (being loved), in which in addition no decrease occurred over time. In relation to “their own death” and the “dying process of others”, a significant decrease of the degree of concern/anxiety was indeed observed (p < 0,05) at the completion of their career.
These results lead us to think of the need to prevent the stressing effect that the impact of these experiences of pain and death have on the students during their training period, thus allowing us to carry out an individualised follow up of these students.
Keywords:
anxiety; death; dying process; fear; nursing students; practicum classes
Versión en Español
Título:
Evolución del impacto emocional de la muerte y el proceso de morir en estudiantes de Enfermería
