Evaluating the Use of Standardized Patients in Teaching Spiritual Care at the End of Life

Because of migration patterns to the United States over the past 250 years, there has always been cultural and religious diversity. Health care providers must have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to care for patients whose beliefs differ from their own, particularly during critical life events such as birth or death. An end-of-life care simulation experience for bachelor of science in nursing students involving standardized patients representing three well-known religious groups was implemented. Fifty-four students participated in this quasi-experimental study comparing a treatment group (n = 30) that experienced a simulation activity with a control group (n = 24). The results supported the hypotheses that participants in the treatment group would have higher scores for knowledge and confidence than the control group.