Title

NURSES’ EXPERIENCES OF CARING FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE DYING AND DEAD: A DESCRIPTIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Author(s)

CHARENE MAE Q. JUEVES

DIVIN M. MAESTRADO

SHEEN MICHAEL C. MAÑEGO

JHAZZY ANGELIQUE RIBBONETTE MAYOL

FATIMA RECHEL METILLO

ERICA NOEL ANN MOJELLO

Affiliation

Misamis University

Degree Program

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Contributor

Chia, Athina Karla A.

Ocapan, Jesus Jr., G.

Tabanao, Rojaida S.

Mutia, Maricar M.

Year

2023

Abstract

Nurses are at the forefront of clinical practice, and their role in caring for patients facing death is paramount. Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, including palliative care teams, nurses provide comprehensive and effective care, addressing not only the physical needs but also the emotional and spiritual aspects of a patient's well-being. Witnessing tragedy and human suffering daily, nurses play a critical role in reducing patients' suffering and supporting peaceful dying when recovery is impossible. This study explored the nurses' experiences when caring for dying patients, serving as a guide for nursing educators and policymakers to enhance nurses' support and improve the level of care. The study conducted in Ozamiz City involved eight nurses selected through a snowball sampling technique based on specific criteria. Through in-depth interviews, the researchers gained comprehensive and detailed information about the nurses' encounters with dying and deceased patients in hospitals around Ozamiz City. The researchers employed Collaizi's (1978) seven-step method for data analysis, providing a comprehensive understanding of nurses' experiences with patient death. This involved identifying significant statements, formulating meanings, clustering themes, and validating the findings through participant confirmation. The findings revealed the emotional toll nurses experience when facing patient death, encompassing shock, sadness, guilt, powerlessness, and foreboding. These emotional challenges impact their well-being, highlighting the need for better support and coping mechanisms. Despite these difficulties, nurses demonstrate compassion, empathy, and adaptability, striving to improve their professional practice when dealing with the profound impact of patient death. The study emphasizes the importance of effective
support systems and training to enhance nurses' coping abilities and promote compassionate care. Future nursing and palliative care researchers may explore the effectiveness of counseling, peer support groups, and mentorship programs in mitigating the emotional burden of caring for dying patients.

Keywords

care of dying and dead patients, impact of death, improving experience, interpersonal experience, intrapersonal experience