Effectiveness of the death education in Chinese nurses: A mixed method study

Death education is the foundation of developing hospice care education and the key to training nurses to master death-related knowledge and skills. Young nurses often struggle to manage death clinically due to insufficient preparation and training. The aim of this study is to explore the influence of a death education course based on Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives (DECBTEO) on young nurses in China. Seventy young nurses from a Chinese university-affiliated hospital were selected through purposive sampling to participate in death education courses during January and February 2024. The research utilized a mixed-methods design, incorporating both pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and post-intervention interviews. Quantitative results indicated significant improvements in participants' death reflection and coping abilities. Four themes were derived from the semi-structured interviews: developing new thinking and experiences, obtaining hospice care's tips, huge obstacles that could be faced, overall assessment of the course. Our intervention proved effective in helping young nurses to engage in future hospice services with a more positive mindset and professional skills.