The Simulation Imperative of End-of-Life Education

A significant effort must be made to adequately prepare nursing students to anticipate personal reactions and develop appropriate coping mechanisms prior to graduation. It is particularly important for nursing curricula to equip students during academic and clinical experiences with skills necessary to productively cope with the stressors faced in difficult end-of-life situations if nurses are to be able to cope effectively in practice. Textbooks have been slow to include all content areas of end-of-life encouraged by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing presented at the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium in 2000. Simulation can be an effective teaching strategy to identify anxiety levels prior to clinical experiences and a venue for the exploration of learning and coping styles.