The use of drawing to enable nursing students to reflect on death and dying

ABSTRACT Introduction Nursing students often find themselves anxious and ill-prepared to deal with death and bereavement situations. Traditional methodologies, such as lectures, prove to be insufficient to provide students with subject matter expertise and effective coping strategies. Objectives To foster students' awareness of emotions related to death and bereavement, to develop skills in accompanying people and carers in these difficult situations and to promote the sharing of experiences as a tool for personal and professional growth. Methods and tools The workshop involved 135 first-year nursing students from a university in north-eastern Italy. The four-hour activity was designed for groups of 25 participants led by an academic tutor assisted by experienced clinical nurses. Through non-verbal techniques such as drawing and guided visualisation to encourage the exploration of beliefs and emotions related to bereavement and death, self-awareness and shared experiences were stimulated. Results The students graphically represented feelings of fear, sadness, loneliness and acceptance. The presence of experienced nurses enriched the experience, promoting discussion as well as personal and professional growth. The experience created a safe learning environment, stimulating sharing and mutual support. Participants expressed satisfaction with the approach used and suggested further similar activities for the future. Discussion This experience demonstrated the importance of addressing the topic of bereavement and death in nursing education. The use of drawing and other non-traditional techniques facilitated the expression of emotions and promoted greater awareness and understanding by students. It is important to integrate these educational practices into academic programmes to improve students' preparedness and resilience in dealing with end-of-life situations.