The near-death experience following multiple trauma

Abstract

The NDE is a fascinating but not uncommon phenomenon that some trauma victims experience during physical crises or periods of apparent clinical death. When critical care trauma nurses are familiar with the characteristics of the experience, they are able to assist trauma victims to understand available information about NDEs. More important, critical care nurses are able to assist victims and their families to understand the meanings of the NDE and how it affects their lives.

Near death experience: a concept analysis as applied to nursing

“…Researchers have described consistent affirmative transformations such that NDE clients experience reduced fear of death (Noyes 1980, Sutherland 1990, Sommers 1994, Greyson 1997, Hayes et al . 1998), and an amplified admiration of life giving them the desire to live life to the fullest (Manley 1996, Greyson 1997).…”

“…Ring reported that 60% of NDE clients experienced stage 1, but only 10% attained stages after 5 (Jansen 1996). The majority of articles reviewed included, in some variation, the characteristics defined by Moody and Ring (Moody 1975, Ring 1980, Hayes & Waters 1989, Dougherty 1990, Olson & Dulaney 1993, Sommers 1994, Orne 1995, Manley 1996).…”

“…As a result, many will make career changes to pursue more altruistic careers, such as working with the older or dying people (Sutherland 1990). Many experience an enhanced zest for life, which is displayed by ecstatic feelings about the beauty of the experience and being thrilled that they were chosen to experience it (Noyes 1980, Sutherland 1990, Sommers 1994, Manley 1996, Bucher et al . 1997, Greyson 1997, Hayes et al .…”

“…1998). Ring (1980) reported that one‐third of people who come close to death experience a NDE and 40% of those who have been successfully resuscitated have experienced a NDE (Sommers 1994, Bucher et al . 1997, Hayes 1999).…”

“…An examination of ‘near death experience’ in the nursing literature offered many definitions, but no universal definition was found. Some authors gave definitions that did not include criteria (Dougherty 1990, Sommers 1994) while others included very specific details of characteristics in their definition (Moody 1975, Ring 1980, Orne 1995).…”