Experiences and Practices of Nurses Caring for Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and practices of nurses caring for terminally ill cancer patients at the Pietersburg Hospital, in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Tesch’s open coding data analysis method. Some of the nurses feel that caring for terminally ill cancer patients was emotionally demanding, strenuous and stressful because of the extensive pain that patients experience. The nurses bond with the patients to such an extent that they feel as if they are family. However, most of the oncology nurses blame themselves, feeling as if they do not do enough to help patients survive, when caring for the terminally ill cancer patients. Family members have expectations of nurses when their patient is in hospital; and when their expectations fail, they sometimes become aggressive and fault-finding. Most oncology nurses consider caring for terminally ill patient a stressful job; yet others expressed love for it. The findings of this study indicate that oncology patients need nurses to support and care for them at all times. Nurses who care for cancer patients have different experiences, some of which cause stress which is painful because they become close to patients and understand the pain they are suffering. Nurses, who care for cancer patients need care and support from hospital management in order to cope with their work.

The effect of death anxiety in nurses on their approach to dying patients: A cross‐sectional study

“…In another study, it is stated that nurses' experience of working with terminally ill patients for a long time reduces death anxiety, strengthens effective coping, and improves more positive approaches to patients 19 . In the literature, it has been emphasized that developing a personal relationship with a patient with a terminal illness risks being emotionally depressed, which can result in unresolved grief and reduce the nurse's ability to work later 20 . Therefore, avoidance attitude negatively affects both the patient and the nurse 21–23 .…”

Development of a training programme for professional nurses in South Africa – An educational response to the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Nursing in an ICU can influence nurses' experiences with a dying patient or the end‐of ‐life care (Efstathiou & Clifford, 2011 ). Nurses have varied experiences of grief and end‐of‐life patient care as they provide continuous health care to ill patients until they die, while doctors consult patients occasionally (Kgosana et al, 2019 ). Valiee et al ( 2012 ) mentioned that nurse's experiences with patients and end of life was accompanied by emotional burden and a conflict in values and beliefs and concluded that there is a need to increase the current knowledge related to providing care to end‐of‐life patients at ICUs.…”

Critical Care Nurses’ Experiences With Death and Dying: A South African Perspective

“…The risk of sudden imminent death does not allow for 'preparation for death' and places enormous demands on the nurses who are expected to provide high-quality care for both the dying and the bereaved (de Beer, Brysiewicz, & Bhengu, 2011). Available literature suggests that critical care nurses have varied experiences in relation to their experiences in relation to grief and end-of-life patient care, stating that nurses tend to provide continuous health care to ill patients until they die, while doctors consult patients occasionally (Kgosana, Mamogobo, Mothiba, & Okafor, 2019). The same study reported that, even though ppatients required physical, psychological and social care from the nurses, the impact of caring for critically ill patients and their families, might prove to be overwhelming if support systems, particularly in the work environment, are not in place and the nurses are not taken care of.…”