How Do Oncology Nurses Cope With the Psychological Burden of Caring for Dying Patients?

Abstract

BackgroundCancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and most patients with cancer in South Korea die in hospitals. Oncology nurses experience physical, emotional, and occupational challenges associated with the psychological burden of caring for dying patients.ObjectiveThis study explored the coping strategies used by oncology nurses to deal with the psychological burden of patient deaths.MethodsIn this descriptive qualitative study, 10 oncology nurses who had recently experienced a patient’s death were recruited via snowball sampling. All were female, with a mean age of 32.9 years (range, 27–44 years), and their mean working duration was 9.9 (range, 3-23) years. Participants were interviewed individually face-to-face 3 times, with each interview lasting 1 to 1.5 hours.ResultsOncology nurses coped with the psychological burden of a patient’s death in the following 4 ways: (a) avoiding patient deaths to the extent possible, (b) reflecting upon the meaning of life and death, (c) suppressing their emotional distress over the patient’s death, and (d) becoming kinder and more caring toward people around them.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that oncology nurses struggle to cope with the psychological burden of patient deaths. Oncology nurses are affected both negatively and positively by experiencing death as they provide end-of-life care.Implications for PracticeOncology nurses need education or counseling to reduce the psychological burden of caring for dying patients with cancer. Hospital administrators need to continuously identify ways to reduce the psychological burden of oncology nurses providing end-of-life care.

Realities and ideals: Experiences and needs of pediatric oncology nurses in communication processes with children and their families at the end‐of‐life period: A photovoice qualitative study

“…Through active emotional management, nurses can function more effectively and maintain their well‐being (Modderkolk et al, 2023). In addition, the study emphasized the importance of behaviors exhibited in actions (Lee et al, 2023). It is thought that the actions of the care staff will deeply affect the therapeutic environment and reinforce the trust and belief in care among children with cancer and their families.…”

Effects of Death Anxiety and Perceived End-of-Life Care Competencies on Fear of Terminal Care among Clinical Nurses

“…High levels of death anxiety among nurses can hinder communication with patients, as witnessing the dying process can be psychologically burdensome. This, in turn, may negatively impact the quality of end-of-life care they deliver [5]. Therefore, it is essential to address nurses' death…”

“…This fear and anxiety about facing dying patients can lead to psychological distancing in end-of-life care situations. Such distancing not only compromises the quality of care provided [4,5], but also contributes to nurse turnover and the intention to leave the profession [5]. Therefore, it is crucial to explore and address the fears that clinical nurses have concerning terminal care.…”