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Undergraduate Nursing Students Caring For Cancer Patients: Hermeneutic Phenomenological Insights Of Their Experiences, Andreas Charalambous, Charis P. Kaite

Charis P. Kaite

Background: The care of patients suffering from cancer and especially those facing the death trajectory appears to be complex and demanding not only for student nurses but for professional nurses as well. The educational models often used in nursing require students to face challenging care scenarios, sometimes with minimal or no supervision and guidance. These “worst case scenarios” can be traumatic experiences that can leave the student hopeless and disappointed of themselves and in many cases can “scar” their subsequent professional career. The literature demonstrates that this can be the result of the students’ ill-preparation to care for cancer patients …