The effect of training given to nurses based on kubler ross model of grief on managing the stages of grief

Objective: This study was designed to determine nurses' death anxiety, their attitudes towards caring for the dying individual and their perception level of spiritual care, and explore the effects of death trainings given to the nurses based on Kubler Ross Model of Grief Stages on their death anxiety, their attitudes towards caring for the dying individual and their spiritual care. Materials and Methods: The population of this single-group pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental study is nurses working in intensive care, oncology and palliative care clinics in a training and research hospital (N=98). The sample was 76 nurses meeting the selection criteria and agreeing to participate in the study. The research data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, Frommelt Attitude towards Caring for the Dying Person (FATCOD), the Thorson-Powell Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS). The research results were expressed in terms of percentage distribution, number, average, standard deviation. The data were evaluated using appropriate statistical methods. Results: It was found that FATCOD, DAS and SSCRS mean scores of nurses after the training (86.63±9.61, 47.47±11.70, 45.28±9.49, respectively) were higher than those of nurses before training (107.184±13,89, 50.95±10.48, 60.47±8.17 respectively), and the differences were statistically significant for FATCOD and SSCRS (p<0.001). Conclusions: In the study, the increase in the mean scores of FATCOD, DAS and SSCRS after the training in comparison to the scores before the training shows that the training given was effective. It is recommended to establish standardized care guidelines in the field by ensuring standardization of death trainings. Keywords: Mourning process, death, anxiety, spiritual care, nursing, Kubler-Ross