Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Assisted Dying: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Assisted dying became a legal choice in November 2021 following the passing of the End of Life Choice Act (2019) in New Zealand. This new means of dying allows individuals to pursue the right to die should they meet the legislated criteria. The availability of assisted dying raises questions regarding nursing practices and responsibilities in relation to the service. The aim of this study was to gain insight into nursing students’ views about assisted dying in Aotearoa New Zealand. A qualitative descriptive study using a qualitative survey with a paper-based questionnaire was undertaken among nursing students enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) programme at a single tertiary education organisation in 2019. Responses from 192 students were analysed using content analysis. Three categories were identified: supportive on the basis of personal choice; disapproval on the basis of personal beliefs; and taking a professional stand as a nurse. The categories present the distinct and opposing views expressed by nursing students regarding assisted dying, with the extent of support or disapproval being supported by their recognition of personal autonomy, their own belief systems and their views of roles expected of nurses. This research highlighted that nursing students’ views about assisted dying were influenced by both personal and professional factors, and at times these were dichotomous. Ethical and practice challenges concerning assisted dying must be recognised and acknowledged. The nursing education sector should include topics related to assisted dying in the curricula and work with students to, where necessary, reconcile any ethical issues that arise. This will ensure that future nurses are prepared and equipped with knowledge and skills in providing care to patients and families considering or requesting assisted dying. Te reo Māori translation Ngā whakaaro o ngā pia tapuhi ki te mate whakaahuru: He rangahau kounga Ngā Ariā Matua I whakamanaia ā-turetia te mate whakaahuru o te tangata i te marama o Nōema 2021 i muri i te pāhitanga o te Ture mō te Whiringa mō te Mutunga o te Oranga (2019) i Aotearoa. Mā tēnei ara hou ki te matenga ka taea e te tangata takitahi te whai i tana tika kia mate, ki te tutuki i a ia ngā paearu ā-ture. Nā te wāteatanga mai o te mate whakaahuru mō te tangata, ka ara ake ētahi pātai mō ngā tikanga mahi tapuhi me ō rātou haepapa mō te kaupapa āwhina hou. Te whāinga o tēnei rangahau he whai kia mārama ki ngā whakaaro o ngā pia tapuhi ki te mate whakaahuru o te tangata i Aotearoa. I mahia tētahi rangahau whakaahua kounga nā te whakamahi uiuinga kounga, ki tētahi rārangi pātai pepa i waenga i ngā pia tapuhi i rēhitatia ki tētahi akoranga Paetahi mō Te Tapuhitanga (BN) i tētahi whare whakaako kotahi i 2019. I tātaritia ngā whakautu mai i ngā ākonga 192 nā te whakamahi tātaritanga kōrero. E toru ngā kāwai i tautuhitia: ērā i tautoko i runga i te whiringa whaiaro; te korenga e whakaae i runga i ngā whakapono tāngata takitahi; me te tū hei tangata ngaio, arā, hei tapuhi. Ko ngā kāwai kei te whakaari i ngā tū motuhake, tauaro hoki i whakapuakina e ngā pia tapuhi mō te mate whakaahuru, me kī, kei te āhua o tō rātou whakaae ki te mana motuhake o te tangata mōna anō, o ō rātou pūnaha whakapono, me tō rātou titiro ki ngā mahi e tika ana mā te tapuhi, te kaha tautoko, te kaha whakahē rānei ki te ara hou. Tā tēnei rangahau he whakatairanga i te kawenga o ngā whakaaro o ngā pia tapuhi mō te mate whakaahuru e ngā pūtake whaiaro, me ngā pūtake ngaio, ā, i ētahi wā he noho tauwehe ēnei pūtake e rua. Me mātua kite, me mātua urupare ki ngā wero matatika me ngā wero i te wāhi mahi o te mate whakaahuru. Me uru ki te rāngai akoranga tapuhi ētahi kaupapa e pā ana ki te mate whakaahuru i roto i te marautanga me te mahi tahi ki ngā ākonga ki te tuitui tahi i ngā take matatika ka ara ake, i ngā wāhi e tika ana. Mā konei ka tika te whakangungu, te hoatu pūkenga hoki ki ngā tapuhi o āpōpō, ka whiwhi hoki i te mātauranga me ngā pūkenga e tika ana hei tiaki i ngā tūroro me ō rātou whānau e whiriwhiri nei, e inoi nei rānei, ki te mate whakaahuru mō rātou. Ngā kupu matua mate whakaahuru; te taurimatanga i te mutunga o te ora; ngā ture; te akoranga tapuhi; ngā pia tapuhi; te rangahau kounga