Communication in end of life care: do you have the skills you need?
Nursing students on clinical placement can find themselves unprepared by their undergraduate programme for the challenges of palliative and end of life care. Their first experience of a patient death may be distressing, and conversations about death with patients and families can be daunting. One nursing student discusses her lack of preparedness for end of life care. Expert nurses offer advice to help nursing students communicate with patients who are dying and their families. The ‘clean language’ technique and why it can help nurses give person-centred care is explained, as is the role of simulated learning in palliative and end of life care. There are practical tips for nursing students on debriefing, reflection, demonstrating compassion, and promoting patient dignity after death.
