Dying well: nurses’ experiences of ‘good and bad’ deaths in hospital

Abstract

There is a need to improve communication with patients and families about diagnosis and prognosis to ensure that effective communication takes place and 'blocking behaviour' is avoided. The findings also challenge practitioners to focus attention on death as a process, and to prioritize patients' needs above those of the organization. Moreover, there is the need for guidelines to be developed enabling patients to have a role in shaping events at the end of their lives.

Awareness of Good Death and Attitudes toward Terminal Care among Geriatric Hospital Nurses

“…요즈음 존엄사에 대한 관 심이 높아지는 시점에서(29) 간호사의 좋은 죽음에 대한 인식과 임종간호태도는 더욱 중요한 관심의 대상이 될 것이다. 좋은 죽음인식과 임종간호태도에 대한 그 동안 의 국내외 연구는 종합병원 의료인, 간호대학생, 일반인 으로 성인과 노인 그리고 호스피스 대상자 등을 대상으 로 이루어져 왔다 (28,(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37). 한국교육학술정보원에서 제 공하는 학술연구정보서비스 홈페이지 (38) …”

Specialist palliative care nursing and the philosophy of palliative care: a critical discussion

“…For example, a C death experiences around the death event itself rather than the dying process. For example, death which was unexpected or where there was a perceived lack of time for preparation and connection By contrast families were aware and distressing symptoms were absent (Costello, 2006 McNamara, 2004). Whilst the construction of a good or bad death continue to be used in healthcare and throughout society, the way in which death is viewed has been dominated by a Western model of health care which is dominated by individualism, secularism and medical sciences (Bradbury, 2000).…”

Passing Away: An Exploratory Study into Physiotherapy Students' Experiences of Patient Death whilst on Clinical Placement

“…Grief reactions are often shaped by cultural norms (Matzo et al 2003), with the cultural norm regarding death in acute hospitals manifesting itself in silence (Redinbaugh et al 2003) and secrecy (Costello 2006). The literature suggests it is important that clinical educators recognise a student's response to patient death and that an environment is created that legitimises emotional reactions and enables discussion (Shanfield 1981, Redinbaugh et al 2003, Williams et al 2005, Gerow et al 2010, Kelly & Nisker 2010, Williams 2013, thereby facilitating an ability to cope.…”

“…Investigations into the provision of end-of-life care within the acute hospital show that those providing such treatment are preoccupied with routine practice and curative measures (Costello 2006, Willard & Luker 2006 which may lead to barriers to palliative, comfort or supportive measures (Costello & Trinder-Brook 2000, Willard & Luker 2006. In turn, this may lead to inadequacies in meeting the psychosocial needs of dying patients (Matzo et al 2003, Rich 2005, Willard & Luker 2006.…”

“…However, the difficulties in identifying and implementing appropriate care plans to facilitate a 'good death' can also be traumatic (Costello 2006) and may manifest as either emotional or physical reactions (Rich 2005, Moores et al 2007, Halpern et al 2009). Emotional distress may have long-term detrimental effects both personally and professionally such as post-traumatic stress disorder, burnout, reduced clinical effectiveness (Matzo et al 2003, Clouder 2005, Rich 2005, Halpern et al 2009, Shorter & Stayt 2009) and professional compassion fatigue (Wilson & Kirshbaum 2011, Melvin 2012).…”