Navigating Improper Care Settings: Nurses’ Experiences Assisting Oncological Patients at the End of Life in Surgical Departments

Abstract

Background Despite the growing preference for end-of-life care at home, numerous oncological patients continue to spend their final moments in surgical wards. This incongruity in settings may contribute to “dysthanasia,” unnecessarily prolonging futile treatments and resulting in undue suffering. As frontline caregivers, nurses frequently bear the brunt of these challenging situations for patients and their families. Objective To investigate the experiences of nurses providing care to terminally ill oncological patients inappropriately admitted to surgical departments. Methods We adopted a phenomenological descriptive study. Nurses purposefully selected from 7 distinct surgical units at a University Hospital in Northeast Italy were recruited. Data collection took place through open-ended semistructured interviews. The interview content was analyzed using Colaizzi’s framework. Results The study with 26 participants revealed emotional challenges, especially for less-experienced nurses. Diverse perspectives among nurses emphasized the need for better palliative care knowledge. Despite the commitment to quality care, collaboration challenges and discordant goals with physicians impacted comprehensive care delivery. Conclusions Dysthanasia relates to participants’ challenges in caring for oncological patients in inappropriate settings, hindering transparent communication and exacerbating discordance with doctors. Implications for Practice Communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, and surgeons are crucial. Ongoing education in end-of-life care, coupled with advance care planning, empowers patients, aligns treatment choices, and prevents dysthanasia across diverse healthcare settings.