SOCIAL REPRESENTATION OF DEATH FOR NURSING STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to identify the structure of the social representations of death for Nursing students.

Method:

descriptive research, based on the Central Nucleus Theory. Free Word Association was used with 91 Nursing students from the last year of the undergraduation course, between April and June 2019, at a public university in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The data was processed by the EVOC software, which generated a chart with four quadrants, where the probable central nucleus and peripheral system can be located.

Results:

the central nucleus was integrated by the elements end, sad and pain; in the first periphery, longing; and, in the second, rest, loss, suffering, eternity, life, anguish and crying. The contrast zone was constituted by fear and cycle.

Conclusion:

this representation reinforces the need to insert the theme in the health courses and to create spaces that propitiate reflection and listening, helping the students to better elaborate the losses.

DESCRIPTORS:
Death; Nursing Students; Education; Nursing; Attitude towards Death