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Summary
Nurses caring for terminally ill patients found the work rewarding, though novice nurses struggled with emotional coping. Senior nurses desired more training in pain management and family care.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Nursing Education
- Oncology Nursing
Background:
- A 1983 study examined the experiences of nurses caring for terminally ill patients before hospital support teams were established.
- The study focused on distressing symptoms in patients with malignant and non-malignant terminal diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the challenges and rewards of end-of-life care from the nurses' perspective.
- To identify areas for improved support and training for nursing staff in terminal care settings.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study involving 26 terminally ill patients.
- Semi-structured interviews with 52 nurses providing care to these patients across two hospitals.
Main Results:
- Most nurses found caring for the terminally ill to be a rewarding experience.
- First-year student nurses reported significant difficulty in managing their emotions.
- Senior nurses expressed a need for enhanced education in pain control and the care of patients' relatives.
- Nursing staff support was perceived as superior in units utilizing the nursing process.
Conclusions:
- While end-of-life care can be rewarding, specific training needs exist for novice nurses regarding emotional coping.
- Improved training in pain management and family support is crucial for senior nurses.
- Implementing the nursing process may enhance support for nursing staff in palliative care settings.