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Meaning Making in Palliative Nursing
Natalie S McAndrew1, Betty Ferrell, Jennifer B Seaman
1Natalie S. McAndrew is nurse scientist and senior associate consultant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Betty Ferrell is professor and director, Nursing Research Division, City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, CA. Jennifer B. Seaman is assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, PA. Colleen McCracken is system educator-RN at Froedtert Health in Milwaukee, WI. William E. Rosa is assistant attending behavioral scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Contact author: Natalie S. McAndrew, mcandrew.natalie@mayo.edu. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Abstract:
A meaning-focused approach to palliative nursing helps patients and their family caregivers make sense of and cope with serious illness. It also helps nurses find meaning and purpose in their work. This orientation to care promotes a sense of connection, creates a framework for difficult conversations, and optimizes clinical care delivery. This article reviews the theoretical foundations of meaning making, describes formal and informal strategies for delivering meaning-focused nursing care, and suggests opportunities for practice improvement. Making meaning in serious illness care can promote diverse benefits for patients, family caregivers, and nurses.
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