A voice for the dying

Secondary analysis of data collected for a grounded theory study of family surrogate decision-making processes at the end of life was undertaken to describe participants' perceptions of the needs of family decision makers as expressed through their advice to others. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory, resulting in identification of the major categories and their properties describing surrogates' recommendations. The entire data set (approximately 22 hours of audiotaped narrative data collected from persons who had functioned as surrogates during the terminal phase of a family member's cancer) was newly analyzed for the secondary analysis. All participants experienced the role as very demanding. Those who were able to see that another's wishes were honored experienced satisfaction. Advice from experienced surrogates offers nurses both direct guidance to help them meet surrogates' needs and insight to assist them in coaching surrogates in the performance of this critical role.