A mental health nursing clinical experience with hospice patients

The author describes a clinical experience with hospice patients developed for an 8-week mental health nursing course. The experience focused on the promotion of mental health in the patient and the therapeutic use of self with students. Students were assigned a hospice patient each of whom they visited once a week. Students kept a journal and met for a weekly support group meeting with their instructor. The experience was evaluated positively by students who thought it improved their use of therapeutic communication, empathy, and gained insight into death and dying.