Honors College Theses

Publication Date

2026

Major

Nursing (BSN)

Release Option

Open Access

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Tiffany Keshwah

Abstract

Background: Pediatric nurses working in specialties that experience terminal diagnoses, death, and post-mortem care, often feel unprepared for the emotional toll and lack adequate support systems (Camera et al., 2024). Nurses report feeling under prepared due to a lack of hands-on opportunities before graduation (Richoux, et al., 2022). Pediatric death is a traumatic experience for families and nurses. Previous studies have shown that hands-on education increases nurses' confidence in caring for patients at the end of their lives (Cole & Foito, 2019; Noyes et al., 2023). Method: A one-day, hands-on multidisciplinary workshop on pediatric end-of-life (EOL) was created and offered to nursing students enrolled in a traditional, BSN program at a public university in southeast Georgia. Senior nursing students were invited to attend the workshop. Students were asked to fill out anonymous, pre-and post-workshop surveys. Survey questions asked students to rate their comfortability, knowledge, and emotional preparedness caring for pediatric patients at the end of life using a Likert scale. Pre and post surveys were analyzed to determine if the workshop affected nursing students' confidence in pediatric pre- and post-care. Results: The data from the one-day hands-on workshop showed significant increases in students’ confidence in completing pediatric EOL care. Conclusion: It is crucial to provide nurses and nursing students with hands-on skills for end-of-life care as well as the ability to communicate with family members during periods of grief. The use of simulated clinical experiences offers nursing students a safe, controlled environment to practice key skills in critical moments. This project aims to empower the next generation of nurses to care for pediatric patients and their families during times of loss.

Thesis Summary

This study examines how nursing students often feel unprepared for the emotional and clinical challenges of pediatric end-of-life (EOL) care due to limited hands-on training and insufficient support systems. To address this gap, a one-day, multidisciplinary, hands-on workshop was offered to senior BSN students at a public university in southeast Georgia. Students completed pre- and post-workshop surveys questioning their comfort, knowledge, and emotional readiness for pediatric EOL care. Results showed a significant increase in students’ confidence after the workshop. The findings highlight the importance of experiential learning, particularly simulated clinical experiences, in preparing nursing students to provide compassionate care and effectively communicate with families during times of loss.

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