Nurses response to terminal care in the geriatric unit

The elderly patient poses a major challenge in the future organisation of nursing services. Over half of all cancers occur in the elderly and account for a considerable proportion of diagnoses for patients in geriatric units. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the attitudes of nurses towards terminal care of patients on their wards. The questionnaire sought the opinions of nurses on acute and rehabilitation wards with regard to various aspects of terminal care. The study identified several areas where nurses on both acute and rehabilitation wards felt uncomfortable with their role in the care of such patients and areas where they felt to be lacking in certain skills. The study highlighted that although nurses considered care in these wards to be good, the provision of specialised training, and support of these nurses, would perhaps enable more satisfaction for the nurses and improve care of elderly patients during their terminal illness.