Caring for patients with eating deficiencies in palliative care—Registered nurses’ experiences: A qualitative study

Wallin, Viktoria; Mattsson, Elisabet; Omérov, Pernilla; Klarare, Anna

doi:10.1111/jocn.16149

Cited by 5 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The overarching theme, Supporting persons with eating deficiencies in-between palliative care and end-of-life care, was represented by three subthemes: (a) Easy to stick with doing, (b) Just being, without doing, is hard and (c) Letting go 3. Easy to stick with doing reflected RNs’ eagerness to be helpful which often overtook patient autonomy 3. Just being, without doing, is hard illustrated the lens through which RNs viewed themselves and their limitations 3.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this qualitative study,3 19 RNs with special interest and expertise in palliative care delivery in Sweden participated in telephone interviews to explore their experiences with eating deficiencies in palliative and end-of-life care settings. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…RNs provide essential care to individuals with life-limiting illnesses, yet many RNs feel ill-prepared to address ethical issues associated with this care including nutrition support therapy. 1,2 In this study, 3 Wallin et al examine the internal conflict RNs may experience with eating deficiencies in palliative and end-of-life care. RNs may struggle to understand their own values and beliefs in the context of those of their patients and families and in conjunction with the pathophysiology of life-limiting illnesses.…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…RNs may struggle to understand their own values and beliefs in the context of those of their patients and families and in conjunction with the pathophysiology of life-limiting illnesses. 1,2,3 Impending death may awaken feelings of helplessness, self-doubt and personal inadequacies among RNs. 1,2,3…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,2,3 Impending death may awaken feelings of helplessness, self-doubt and personal inadequacies among RNs. 1,2,3…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Palliative care nurses’ experiences caring for patients with eating deficiencies

Kean

2022

Evid Based Nurs

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,2,3 Impending death may awaken feelings of helplessness, self-doubt and personal inadequacies among RNs. 1,2,3…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Palliative care nurses’ experiences caring for patients with eating deficiencies

Kean

2022

Evid Based Nurs

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Malnutrition management and the application of medical nutrition therapy in hospitalized patients at the end of life

Eglseer,

Bauer,

Schuettengruber

2024

The Journal of nutrition, health and aging

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Assistant nurses' experiences of thirst and ethical dilemmas in dying patients in specialized palliative care—A qualitative study

Friedrichsen,

Jaarsma,

Thulesius

et al. 2023

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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AimsTo describe assistant nurses' experiences of thirst and ethical challenges in relation to thirst in terminally ill patients in specialized palliative care (PC) units.DesignA qualitative, reflexive thematic design with an inductive analysis was used.MethodsData were collected during November 2021–January 2023. Twelve qualitative interviews with assistant nurses working in five different specialized PC units in different hospitals in Sweden were conducted. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed with a reflexive thematic analysis. The study was guided by the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).ResultsTwo main themes were found in this study. (1) ‘A world of practice for thirst relief’ where assistant nurses present a task‐oriented world where the knowledge of thirst is an experience‐based unspoken knowledge where mainly routines rule. (2) Ethical challenges presents different ethical problems that they meet in their practice, such as when patients express thirst towards the end of their life but are too severely ill to drink or when they watch lack of knowledge in the area among other health professionals.ConclusionThirst in dying patients is a neglected area that assistant nurses work with, without communicating it. Their knowledge of thirst and thirst relief are not expressed, seldom discussed, there are no policy documents nor is thirst documented in the patient's record. There is a need for nurses to take the lead in changing nursing practice regarding thirst.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.ImpactIn palliative care, previous studies have shown that dying patients might be thirsty. Assistant nurses recognize thirst in dying patients, but thirst is not discussed in the team. Nurses must consider the patient's fundamental care needs and address thirst, for example in the nursing process to ensure patients quality of life in the last days of life.Reporting MethodThe study was guided by the SRQR.What does this Article Contribute to the Wider Global Clinical Community?Thirst is a distressing symptom for all humans. However, when a patient is dying, he or she loses several functions and can no longer drink independently. The knowledge from this article contributes to our understanding of current practice and shows an area that requires immediate attention for the improvement of fundamental palliative care delivery.

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Caring for patients with eating deficiencies in palliative care—Registered nurses’ experiences: A qualitative study

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri butio n-NonCo mmerc ial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Cited by 5 publications

References 48 publications

Palliative care nurses’ experiences caring for patients with eating deficiencies

Palliative care nurses’ experiences caring for patients with eating deficiencies

Malnutrition management and the application of medical nutrition therapy in hospitalized patients at the end of life

Assistant nurses' experiences of thirst and ethical dilemmas in dying patients in specialized palliative care—A qualitative study

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