Euthanasia from the perspective of nursing undergraduate students: concepts and challenges

3 Doctor in Religious Studies. Professor of Bioethics and Aging in the Stricto Sensu Post- graduation Program in Gerontology of UCB. Brasilia, DF - Brazil. 4 Nurse. Doctor in Health Sciences. Professor in the Nursing and Social Services Graduation Courses and in the Post-graduation Program in Gerontology of UCB. Brasilia, DF - Brazil. ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to present rounds of conversation carried out with nursing students on the issue of euthanasia before they begin the university course of "Professional Practice and Bioethics" in order to verify whether or not, before that semester, the student had in fact achieved a competence and ability to debate the topic itself. This is a descriptive and exploratory study, which follows a case-study-type qualitative approach. The sample consisted of 31 students enrolled in the course. Data collection was performed in three rounds of conversation with 10 students and one with 11 students. The discourses were analyzed using content analysis, as set forth by Lawrence Bardin. It was possible to see the reality of the students' daily lives, which led them to seek in God the strength to face the end of life, without binding their action as a professional to the Nursing Code of Ethics or to the Brazilian Penal Code and the lack of knowledge of the living will (CFM Resolution 1995/2012) as a document of respect towards the pre-established will of terminal patients. The study helped to understand the discourse of the participants and to structure the euthanasia module within the university course of "Professional Practice and Bioethics" as well as to broaden the awareness of the rights of professionals and users in the rendering of medical services, which requires a well-founded educational work. This is due to the fact that the constitutional guarantees and legitimated codes are not enough to assure the rights of the patient in practice.