The death and die process: nursing education in school and service

Abstract

The nursing team is educated in order to promote, prevent and treat patients. Daily they remain in conflict, fighting for life and against death. Even if scientific and technological advances provide an increase in the life expectancy of those assisted, the training and maturation of these workers to deal with the possible extension, however inevitable finitude does not seem to accompany this scenario. The theoretical essay presented seeks to demonstrate that the need to implement disciplines that contemplate the process of death and dying in school curricula, as well as in-service education for nurses and nursing technicians is urgent. It is concluded that the opening of the space for discussion that focuses on the theme can equip health workers to face a process that is natural, but that involves many variables, especially with regard to the team's own emotional health and interpersonal relationships.