Enhancing the Competence of Undergraduate Nursing Students to Care for Dying Children in Saudi Arabia

Most undergraduate nursing students receive limited formal education regarding paediatric palliative care. The study employed a sequential explanatory mixed methods design to generate knowledge about how to enhance nursing students' competence in caring for dying children in Saudi Arabia. The study provides evidence of the benefits of well-designed educational programs in enhancing the learning of palliative care and improving students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived self-competence in this field. Programs which include a mix of both didactic and active learning approaches are recommended. The study also identified a range of sociocultural influences on what competence means in the context of paediatric palliative care in Saudi Arabia and the importance of considering these when designing educational interventions