This descriptive study tested: 1) whether a change in attitude toward death and the dying was associated with the clinical course. "Nursing of the Adult Patient with Malignant Neoplastic Disease," and 2) the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Death Attitude Indicator. Data were collected by pre- and posttesting 40 senior nursing students, half of whom had elected to take the course, within the interval of one semester. Results showed no change in attitude in either group conflicting data raised a question of whether the two groups began the study with similar attitudes toward death. Two factors were found to be associated with the respondent's score on the questionnarie: experience with a family death and indication of a belief in a Supreme Being.