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Published on: August 5, 2020
Professional tears: developing emotional intelligence around death and dying in emergency work
Cara Bailey1, Roger Murphy, Davina Porock
1School of Nursing, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. C.bailey.2@bham.ac.uk
Emergency nurses develop expertise in end-of-life care by investing in relationships, managing emotional labor, and building emotional intelligence. This approach enhances patient and family experiences during end-of-life care.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Emergency Medicine
- Palliative Care
Background:
- End-of-life care is demanding for nurses, especially in Emergency Departments.
- Emotional labor associated with caring for the dying can lead to avoidance and burnout.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how emergency nurses manage the emotional impact of death and dying.
- To present a model for developing expertise in end-of-life care delivery.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing unstructured observations and semistructured interviews.
- 12 months of observation in a large Emergency Department.
- 28 in-depth interviews with emergency staff, patients, and relatives.
Main Results:
- Nurses progress through three stages: self-investment, emotional labor management, and emotional intelligence development.
- Barriers to expertise development can cause occupational stress, burnout, and withdrawal.
- Emotional intelligence is key for managing emotional labor in end-of-life care.
Conclusions:
- Nurses investing in therapeutic relationships can manage emotional labor and find reward in end-of-life care.
- Developing emotional intelligence improves end-of-life care experiences for patients and families.
- This model enhances awareness and skills for managing emotive aspects of end-of-life nursing care.
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