Caring for cancer patients facing death: nurse's perception and experience

Abstract

Objective: To know the experiences and perceptions of nurses who care for dying cancer patients. Method: A descriptive, qualitative study, developed in a private hospital in Sao Paulo, with a total of nine nurses, aged between 24 and 46 years old, who participated in a semi-structured interview. Results: Through Bardin's Content Analysis, three categories were highlighted: Death as a natural process and the final stage of the life cycle; Although it is difficult, it is important to get emotionally involved with dying patients and their family; and Reflecting on their experiences in the care of dying patients and their family. Final Considerations: The nurses' experiences and perceptions of the death of cancer patients showed the professional's involvement and feelings of anxiety and anguish. Adopting effective strategies to address people who are suffering, in the context of the study, can provide subsidies that will guide clinical practice in health.

Atuação da equipe de enfermagem frente ao paciente terminal com estomia de eliminação em um serviço público de Estomaterapia

“…Funes, et al (2020) 19 identificou em seu estudo que a equipe de enfermagem que lida diariamente com questões relacionadas à terminalidade, em sua maioria, entende a morte como sendo um fenômeno complexo, doloroso e de difícil aceitação, principalmente quando se trata da área oncológica. No cotidiano de trabalho das equipes essa abordagem ainda é precária, sendo necessário tratar o tema junto às equipes multiprofissionais, oportunizando espaço para diálogo e com vistas a amenizar o sofrimento dos profissionais ao se depararem com tais situações.…”

Exploring the emotional concerns of oncology nurses: A qualitative study

“…In this regard, Funes et al . [ 21 ] showed that nurses grieved over the death of their patients. It seems, the severity and extent of grief and sadness caused by the patient's death depend on several factors, including empathy, nurse–patient communication, and nurses' lower ability to control their emotions in the face of painful situations.…”

Communication Education in General Hospitals and Nurses’ Difficulties in Communicating with Patients at the Terminal Phase of Cancer

“…(2) Semi-structured interview survey: Using a preliminary questionnaire and an interview guide, the participants were encouraged to talk freely on the following questions. The main questions were (1) the actual state of education related to communication with cancer patients, (2) what the nurses told the participants about difficulties in communicating with terminally ill cancer patients, and (3) responses of participants when they were consulted by nurses about their difficulties. When multiple participants were selected from one hospital, those with more years of experience were asked about the education provided by the hospital, while those with less years of experience were asked about the education provided by the department they work for, such as the ward.…”

“…Due to the lack of psychological assessment of the Talk at a conference (5) Suggest that willing nurses discuss it at a conference Even if there are difficult cases, there are wards that hold a death conference and others that do not, so I call out to wards that do not hold conferences Discuss with everyone in training (2) Talk to nurses in other groups, share with everyone that they are responding in the same way, and discuss how to get involved, although there is no correct answer Teach by linking consultation cases to cases of decision-making support lectures to consider the patientʼs feelings patient, feelings of being stuck between the patient and the family, and inability to wait for the patient to sort out their feelings, the nurses are afraid of hurting the patient and worried that they cannot speak to encourage the patient to express their feelings; hence, they consulted the participants.…”

“…However, many nurses find it difficult to become emotionally involved in their relationship with dying cancer patients, and as a result, the current situation is that psychosocial care for patients cannot be sufficiently provided. 2,3 Although nurses want to be deeply involved in the care of patients with terminal cancer, they also experience repeated stress, predisposing them to compassion fatigue and burnout. 4,5 One highly stressful part of care is the difficulty in communicating with patients at the terminal phase of cancer.…”