HEMŞİRELİK ÖĞRENCİLERİ TERMİNAL DÖNEMİNDEKİ ÇOCUK HASTANIN BAKIMI HAKKINDA NE DÜŞÜNÜYOR? ODAK GRUP ÇALIŞMASI

Aim: Nursing students face many patients with chronic diseases who require care in the terminal period. This study aims to determine the student nurses' experiences about the end-of-life care provided to children in the terminal period approaching death. Methods: The study was conducted using focus group interviews, which are qualitative research methods. The sample was constituted of 12 intern student nurses who were working in the pediatric hospital of the university at 2017 in Turkey. The research inclusion criteria for students was that they must have provided palliative care or seen death. The focus group interview was held in the meeting room at the Nursing School on the day and hour when the nurses were available with four researchers. Data were analyzed together by using conventional content analysis. Results: It was found that nursing students providing care to pediatric patients in the terminal period experience many feelings including fear, nervousness, helplessness, shock, emotional deterioration, etc. and they do not know how to deal with these emotions. These students believe that symptom management and self-care requirements should be managed in the best way and that emotional support should be provided. The students pointed out the families' information needs and emotional support needs. They also emphasized the emotional effects associated with themself. Conclusion: Nursing education programs should be reviewed to include coping with the students' own emotions, as well as the education of the family on symptom and self-care management, emotional support. Suggestions: Organize individual and group meetings to provide nursing students opportunities to express their feelings regarding the care and death of the child in the terminal period.