Near Death Experiences in End of Life Conditions: Need for Nursing Perspectives

Abstract

End of life (EOL) conditions are very complicated situations for several reasons. It is the phase of one's life where physical, emotional and spiritual vulnerabilities as well as insecurities are at their peaks. End of life visions and dreams are a very complex group of experiences. End of life dreams and visions (ELDVs) are one of these integral components of end of life condition. These altered states of consciousness are as baffling as death itself. More important are the challenges that they present to the observer. More important is their tendency to become overlapped by awake and dream states and a poor cognitive ability of the patient to report them. Thus the role of an around the clock nursing staff becomes especially significant to judge the situation and provide objective inputs to the reports which are being recorded as ELDVs. Thus the role of a nursing staff in ELDVS is indispensable and should be incorporated in the studies of ELDVs as much as possible.