Perceptions of Death Among Intensive Care Nurses: A Metaphor Study

Intensive care nurses frequently encounter death as part of their clinical practice, which may evoke complex emotional and cognitive responses. Understanding how nurses perceive death is essential, as these perceptions can influence care delivery, decision-making processes and the quality of end-of-life care. Although previous studies have explored nurses' experiences with death, research examining these perceptions through metaphors remains limited.

This study aimed to explore intensive care nurses' perceptions of death through the use of metaphors.

This study was conducted using a qualitative design. Data were collected using a metaphor-based approach and analysed using content analysis to identify common themes and categories.

Intensive care nurses expressed their perceptions of death using a variety of metaphors, which were grouped into five main categories: 'End', 'Peace', 'Beginning', 'Uncertainty' and 'Unclassifiable'. The findings revealed that death was most commonly perceived as an 'End', often associated with inevitability and finality. However, some nurses described death as a peaceful transition or a new beginning, while others emphasized its uncertain and ambiguous nature.

The findings suggest that intensive care nurses hold multidimensional perceptions of death, shaped by both emotional and experiential factors. These perceptions reflect not only the finality of death but also its potential meaning as a transition or a source of peace.

Understanding nurses' perceptions of death may contribute to improving end-of-life care practices, supporting their emotional coping strategies, and enhancing communication with patients and families in intensive care settings. Addressing these perceptions through education and supportive interventions may strengthen nurses' ability to provide holistic and compassionate care.