Nursing students practicing in any health care clinical setting can have experiences with death and dying patients. Understanding these patients’ perceptions of death and dying and cultural beliefs are important. This qualitative descriptive
study aimed to identify and describe student nurses’ perceptions of a good death. Participants were 12 graduate nursing students who had provided end of life care during their clinical practice were recruited on a voluntary basis to give in-depth interviews using semi-structured questions regarding their perceptions of a good death. Data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings included six themes for a good death were: 1) die peacefully with no physical suffering; 2) die with a calm and peaceful mind; 3) be able to practice religious and cultural beliefs prior to death; 4) being surrounded by loved ones; 5) doing what they want before dying; and 6) family members were prepared and accepted death (be able to let go). The results of the present study confirmed the findings of other studies and contribute to better understanding of students’ perception of a good death in Thai culture and context, which may be implemented for the development of religious and cultural sensitive guidelines for the end of life patients and their families.

Keywords: Good death, Death and dying, Palliative care, Qualitative research, End of life care