{"title":"\"Unaware and Unprepared\": Experiences of Critical Care Nurses Providing End-of-Life Care; A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Celia Wells, Toby Bressler","doi":"10.1097/NJH.0000000000000934","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Modern health care delivery incorporates technology to prolong life for those with serious illnesses. As technology continues to advance, the critical care nurses' role particularly at the end of life (EOL) continues to evolve, requiring higher levels of care. This contributes to an already complex environment for nurses to practice. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of critical care nurses in providing care for patients at EOL. This qualitative descriptive study describes the experience of 216 critical care nurses across the United States. Content analysis illuminated 5 themes: We Can't Fix Everyone, Task-Oriented Nursing, A Profession of Broken Individuals, Unaware and Unprepared, and A Hand to Hold. Study findings provide a unique perspective of critical care nurses and the health care delivery for patients and families at EOL. This study supports the imperative of creating and sustaining healthy work environments and palliative care education as essentials for critical care nurses who care for patients at EOL.</p>","PeriodicalId":54807,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000000934","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Modern health care delivery incorporates technology to prolong life for those with serious illnesses. As technology continues to advance, the critical care nurses' role particularly at the end of life (EOL) continues to evolve, requiring higher levels of care. This contributes to an already complex environment for nurses to practice. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of critical care nurses in providing care for patients at EOL. This qualitative descriptive study describes the experience of 216 critical care nurses across the United States. Content analysis illuminated 5 themes: We Can't Fix Everyone, Task-Oriented Nursing, A Profession of Broken Individuals, Unaware and Unprepared, and A Hand to Hold. Study findings provide a unique perspective of critical care nurses and the health care delivery for patients and families at EOL. This study supports the imperative of creating and sustaining healthy work environments and palliative care education as essentials for critical care nurses who care for patients at EOL.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing (JHPN) is the official journal of the Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association and is the professional, peer-reviewed journal for nurses in hospice and palliative care settings. Focusing on the clinical, educational and research aspects of care, JHPN offers current and reliable information on end of life nursing.
Feature articles in areas such as symptom management, ethics, and futility of care address holistic care across the continuum. Book and article reviews, clinical updates and case studies create a journal that meets the didactic and practical needs of the nurse caring for patients with serious illnesses in advanced stages.