Palliative care to cancer client: the nursing student's perception

Objectives: To identify the knowledge of nursing students in relation to palliative care and discuss the differential of this professional to the quality of care to the customer cancer at an advanced stage. Method: This is a descriptive study with qualitative approach. The study setting was a private university located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The subjects were sixteen nursing students who were duly enrolled in the 9th and 10th periods, in the period of data collection. Results: Two emerged categories: Knowledge of academics about palliative care and the difficulties of dealing with death; and the Role of the Nurse in palliative care. Conclusion: We believe that good practice should be the result of dedication, the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and especially, the strengthening of the human being that exists in every professional. This feature is extremely important for the implementation of sentiment in care.