What constitutes a good death?: implications for family nurse practitioners in rural British Columbia

Abstract

Death is an inevitable part of each individual 's life. It is how that fmal event occurs and the time prior to and during one's last phase of life that greatly influence the dying experience for everyone involved. This project aimed to methodically and critically review research evidence to identify key elements necessary for a good death from patients' perspectives. The final number of articles totaled 35, with a dimensional analysis technique used to review and theme data. A key message following data analysis was that there is a diversity of perspectives and subjective characterizations of what constitutes a good death within and across sociocultural groups. Contributions to a good death involved four overarching domains: 1) preparation for death, 2) sources of support, 3) communication, 4) quality of life issues. The rural family nurse practitioner (FNP) role in supporting a good death needs to be based on working to full scope; engaging in end-of-life (EOL) care planning and anticipating life expectancy; providing holistic and consistent care; engaging in multidisciplinary collaboration and effective communication;providing caregiver support and education; engaging in continuing competence; and providing leadership to ensure the best EOL care is available for all patients wishing to remain in their rural home community to die.