Nurses' Experiences of the Death of Patients in Geriatric Hospitals

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and understand nurses' experiences of the death of patients in geriatric hospitals. Methods: Van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological analysis was applied in the interpretation of experiential descriptions of seven nurses who had experienced the death of patients in a geriatric hospital. Results: The essential subjects derived from the experience of the nurses on the death of patients in a geriatric hospital are covered in the following 7 themes. 'Placed in death site', 'Difficult repetition of death and farewell', 'Emotional waves that rushes in after farewell', 'Dilemmas in a place with no preparation to greet expected death', 'Getting dull from continually being struck with sorrow', 'Being together with living death', and 'Showing courtesy for a good farewell and living well'. Conclusion: The results of this research will contribute to the development of policy on all the deaths of patients in geriatric hospitals and suggest basic data that need to be applied in real practice and directions to introduce plans for realistic improvements in nursing care of deathbed patients in geriatric hospitals. If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

A qualitative study of phenomenology of perspectives of student nurses: experience of death in clinical practice

“…Researchers have identified that excessive exposure to the death of patients leads to compassion fatigue for nurses [ 3 ]. Additionally, when nurses actually experience patients’ deaths, some negative feelings including guilt, depression, frustration, sadness, incompetence, helplessness and distress come over them [ 4 – 7 ]. Hiding feelings and working continuously are common coping strategies they choose, as they are worried that showing their feelings may influence other’s perceptions of their professionalism [ 4 , 7 ].…”

Concept Analysis of Nurses’ Acceptance of Patient Deaths

“…③ 하나의 이상적인 애도 방식만을 따르진 않는다 (15). ④ 자신과 가족을 생각하며 자신의 삶을 반추하는 것 이다 (6,10). ⑤ 인간 삶과 죽음을 성찰하고 인간 존엄을 실천하는 것이다 (7,31,32).…”

“…③ 의연하게 바라보기 (7,9,21,28,30) ④ 인간 존엄 실천하기 (7,10,21,31,32) 본 연구를 통해 확인된 속성을 바탕으로 간호사의 환 자죽음 수용이란 '환자죽음을 경험한 간호사가 애도를 통해 도달하는 단계로써 자신의 삶을 반추해서 삶과 죽 음에 대한 통찰력을 얻고, 환자죽음을 의연하게 바라보 며 인간 존엄을 간호 현장에서 실천하는 것'으로 정의 하였다.…”

“…① 환자죽음 경험 ② 혼돈과 갈등 (6,7,10,31,32) ③ 부정적 감정 (6,7,10,(28)(29)(30)(31)(32) ④ 수동적 대처 (8,10,30,32) ⑤ 환자죽음 회피 (8,10,30) 2) 간호사의 환자죽음 수용 결과 ① 전인적인 임종간호(7-10,29-32) ② 적극적인 삶 추구 (6,10,28,29)…”

“…Yi (7)는 임종환자를 돌보는 병원간호사의 사회⋅심리적 과정을 감정에 충실하면서 자신 추스르기로 보고하였다. 임상간호사의 임종환자 간호체험 (6), 호스피스 완화병동 간호사의 임종간호 경 험 (8), 간호사의 노인임종 경험 (9), 노인병원 환자죽음에 대한 간호사의 경험 (10)…”