Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
12-2-2025
First Advisor
Lisa Drake
Second Advisor
Diane Hare
Abstract
Effective communication with patients near the end of life is a crucial yet often underdeveloped skill among nursing students. Previous research highlights a persistent gap in training for end-of-life communication in nursing schools. This quality improvement project implemented a simulation-based educational intervention to improve end-of-life communication skills among first-semester nursing students at a community college in Oklahoma. A needs assessment identified significant gaps in students' readiness for emotionally charged patient interactions. Guided by Prosci’s Change Model and Jeffries Simulation Theory, the project used a faculty-led simulation experience to teach evidence-based communication strategies, including appropriate word choice, therapeutic presence, and active listening. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was used to assess the intervention's impact on communication outcomes, utilizing the Health Communication Assessment Tool (HCAT). Statistically significant improvements were observed in Empathy (p < .001), Trust Building (p = .007), Patient and Family Education (p < .001), and Power Sharing (p < .001). Scores for introduction increased but were not statistically significant (p = 0.12). These findings support the use of simulation as an effective teaching method to enhance nursing students’ communication skills in end-of-life care. Integrating structured simulation early in nursing curricula provides a sustainable approach to enhancing communication skills and improving the patient and family experience during critical moments.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Weger, Jason, "Quality Improvement Project, Communicating with the Dying Patient: A Simulation Experience for Nursing Students" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 255.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/255
