Self-Rated Anxiety and Attitude Responses of Pediatric Nurses Surveyed about Providing End of Life Care

Background: End of Life care is a critical topic for pediatric patients with terminal conditions, aiming at improving their life in spite of prognosis. It is the most traumatic aspect of pediatric nursing due to unpleasant sensations and experiences that obstruct nurses’ abilities to apply satisfactory care regarding End of Life. Aim: to identify the association between self-rated anxiety and attitude responses of pediatric nurses surveyed about providing End of Life care. Method: A descriptive correlational design was utilized. The sample composed of 48 nurses in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in general hospitals in Port Said Governorate. Tools: The 20-item state anxiety questionnaire and the nurses’ attitudes toward pediatric end of life care were used to collect data. Results: 46.8% of the studied nurses had demonstrated generally positive attitude toward End of Life care. 33.3% of them had tendered to reported sometimes to have anxiety symptoms, there is a statistical significant relation between level of anxiety and the attitude toward areas with comfort in discussing the pediatric End of Life care, and physician involvement. Conclusion & Recommendation: positive attitude of pediatric nurses concerning End of Life care. Moreover, negative nurses’ attitude toward the benefits of pediatric nursing care relating End of Life, and there was a statistical significant relation between level of anxiety and the attitude toward comfort in discussing the pediatric nursing care regarding End of Life, and physician involvement. Therefore, The study findings emphasize the need for acquainting pediatric nurses with effective coping strategies to overcome anxiety to improve their attitude toward End of Life care.