A Qualitative Study About How Nurses in Belgium Offer Relationship Support to Couples in Palliative Care

Abstract

Although palliative care nurses are identified as key players in supporting couples during advanced illness, there is a lack of evidence about their knowledge and experiences with this particular role. The aim of the study was to explore palliative care nurses’ attitudes, roles, and experiences in addressing relationship functioning of couples in daily practice. A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews, observational research, and peer debriefing groups with palliative care nurses in Flanders, Belgium. Nurses support relationship functioning by creating a couple-positive care environment, by being present/acknowledging feelings, and by rectifying imbalances between couples. They do so in a proactive way, backed up by team support. Nurses hesitate toward explicitly unraveling and intervening in relationship problems, in favor of providing comfort or offering a strengths-based approach. The findings offer an urgent call to enhance the educational programs for palliative care nurses by integrating the theories and practice frameworks that guide relational assessment and intervention, which are being used in family nursing.

Longing for normalcy in couple relationships: How chronic illness and care dependency change the relationship of long-married couples

“…aspects such as role development should be adequately included (50). This also includes helping to resolve conflicts rather than glossing over them (51). When working with couples, professionals should go beyond patient-centered care and aim for relationshipcentered care (9,52).…”

A Forensic Linguistic Analysis of Modality on Prosecutors’ Resolutions

“…In terms of the analysis, I anchored it based on the theoretical lens of the study. Peer debriefing was employed through the help of the experts in the language of law and in linguistics to validate whether the analysis was done correctly (Benoot et al, 2020;Hamilton, 2020;Norris et al, 2020;Rose & Johnson, Volume 4, Issue 2, 2022 2020; Sweeney et al, 2020). To further enhance this, I also did some readings on the Forensic Linguistics and books relative to law.…”

A Forensic Linguistic Analysis of Modality on Prosecutors’ Resolutions

“…In terms of the analysis, I anchored it based on the theoretical lens of the study. Peer debriefing was employed through the help of the experts in the language of law and in linguistics to validate whether the analysis was properly done (Benoot et al, 2020;Hamilton, 2020;Norris et al, 2020;Rose & Johnson, 2020;Sweeney et al, 2020). To further enhance this, I also did some readings on the Forensic Linguistics and books relative to law.…”