The Perceptions and Experiences of Nursing Students on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)

Abstract

Background: The recent legalization, in Canada, of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) places additional responsibility on undergraduate nursing educators to prepare their students for such encounters. Undergraduate students lack familiarity with death and dying, most of which takes place outside the home in health care institutions. How well these future providers identify and communicate with and care for these patients depends on their educational preparation. Educators, along with nursing regulatory bodies, require more research to prepare curriculum and policies, respectively.

Purpose: This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the experiences and perceptions of nursing students on MAiD, their current understanding of MAiD, ways their current nursing program has helped them prepare to care for a patient requesting MAiD, and areas of improvement for MAiD education within their nursing curriculum.

Methods: Qualitative description methodology included Braun and Clarke’s approach to thematic analysis. Five undergraduate bachelor of nursing students in their fourth year participated in one in-person focus group session.

Results: Six themes were identified: (1) inconsistency in education; (2) student knowledge of MAiD; (3) moral complexity of MAiD experienced by nursing students; (4) uncertainty; (5) strategies for integrating MAiD education; and (6) supporting patient and family autonomy.

Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the importance of MAiD education in nursing and provide a snapshot of nursing students’ current understandings and perceptions of MAiD. This study suggests further studies are needed to fully analyze perceptions and experiences of nursing students, which is key for development of curricula and programs to support and facilitate the skills required of nursing students when caring for patients who request MAiD.