Nursing students perceptions of palliative care

Introduction. Hospice is often referred to as a place of death of the patient, and rarely as a place of support, symptom control and
a dignified life.

Aim of the study. Aim of the study the assessment of nursing students perception of palliative care.

Material and methods. The study group included 175 randomly selected of nursing students, and we used in the original questionnaire survey.

Results. (57.5%) of students defined hospice as a place of the comprehensive care of patients in the terminal stages of illness, and the
thoughts about hospice were generally positive (41.7%). The attention given hospice by the general public is insufficient (86.8%). The hospice patients are under professional care (64%) doctor (96.4%) and nurse (85.7%). They should provide the family information about the patient’s diagnosis prognosis (90.5%) and of his rights (98.8%). Treatment in a hospice had recommended (53%) of the students, and 45.5% suggested that treatment at home. The main problems in hospice care include: lack of knowledge of family on dying patients (58.3%), low spending on hospices (42.9%), a few numbers of hospices, and palliative care clinics (40%). Hospice staff should include: a doctor specializing in palliative medicine (69.1%), a nurse with a specialization or a course of palliative medicine (74.3%) and psychologist (61.7%). The hospice patient (66.5%) and his family (53.6%) receive spiritual support from the priest (77.7%), and sister and nurse (34.3%). 61.7% of students defined the pain and suffering of people at the end of life as a physical sensation. Patient’s family should be involved in care and treatment (91.7%) and stay close without limitations (67.5%). Patient’s family (41.7%) and patient (44.4%) in the hospice received enough
smile, kindness, courtesy.

Conclusions. The vast majority of nursing students defined hospice as a place of the comprehensive care of patients in the terminal stages
of illness. In the hospice should work doctors and nurses with a specialization or course in the field of palliative medicine. The priest, sister and nurse are the most appropriate persons to provide spirituals care. The main problems in hospice care include: lack of knowledge of family on dying patients, low spending on hospices, a few numbers of hospices, and palliative care clinics.