Thai nursing students' experiences when attending real life situations involving cardiac life support: A Phenomenological study

• This study provides information that can be used for teaching cardiac life support.
• Attending real situations in clinic is beneficial for nursing students.
• Attending real situations in clinic is important for clinical teaching.

SummaryBackgroundDuring the last few years, manikin simulations have been used for cardiac life support training procedures in medical and nursing education. However, some nursing students have experienced attending real events involving cardiac life support during their clinical practice.ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the meaning of experience of Thai nursing students when attending real situations of cardiac life support.MethodsA hermeneutic phenomenological study was used. Third and fourth year bachelor of nursing students at a university in the southern region of Thailand who had the experience of attending real situation of cardiac life support were purposely selected as the informants. The data were generated from individual in-depth interviews with eighteen nursing students. Van Manen's approach was used to analyze the data. Trustworthiness was established using the criteria set out by Lincoln and Guba.ResultsEssential themes situated in the context of the four existential grounds of body, time, space, and relation emerged. These were: being worried and fearful while desiring to participate in cardiac life support procedures; enhancing self value; knowing each moment is meaningful for one's life; having time to understand the reality of life; being in a small corner; appreciating such opportunities and the encouragement given by nurses and the healthcare team; and feeling empathy.ConclusionsBesides learning in classrooms and practicing in labs, experiencing real situations is beneficial for nursing students in learning cardiac life support. This study provides information that can be used for clinical teaching management in the topics relating to cardiac life support.