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Terminally ill patients' expectations of nurses
Summary
Terminally ill patients prefer responsive nursing care that supports their autonomy and family involvement. They desire assistance to remain at home, rather than direct discussions about death and dying.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Nursing Practice
- Patient-Centered Care
Background:
- Understanding patient preferences is crucial in end-of-life care.
- Existing nursing practices may not fully align with terminal patients' desires.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and rank the nursing behaviors desired by terminally ill patients.
- To develop a model of responsive nursing care based on patient preferences.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory study utilizing a 70-card Q-sort methodology.
- Statements covered physical, psycho-emotional care for patients, and psycho-emotional care for significant others.
Main Results:
- The most favored statement was "I would like the nurse to help me remain at home for as long as possible."
- The least favored statement was "I would like the nurse to talk to me about death and dying."
- A preference for responsive over directive nursing behaviors was identified, leading to a five-factor model of responsive care.
Conclusions:
- Terminally ill patients desire responsive nursing care that empowers them and their families.
- Nursing care should facilitate patients' own resources during the dying process, rather than imposing externally determined care.
- A responsive care model enhances patient and family agency in end-of-life care.