Evaluation of the Perception and Management of the Terminal Process by Nurses in Terminal Patients

Abstract

Objective: It is important that nurses can perceive and control their feelings about the disease, life, death and loss in order to perform the 'good death' process in terminal patients and to provide better care to patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the perception of the terminal process by the nurses and how they manage this process.Methods: The study was conducted at Ataturk Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital with the ethical approval numbered 05.03.2020/665. Nurses who currently work or who have worked before in intensive care or palliative service were asked to answer the questionnaire “Perception and Management of the Terminal Process by Nurses”. The answers were evaluated and interpreted statistically.Results: The total number of volunteer nurses participating in the study was 55. The mean age of the nurses was 30.05±6.4, of which 21.8% were male and 78.2% were female. 30.9% had more than 10 years of professional experience. The participants (89.1%) thought that care for the terminal stage patient was a right and comfort-peace, but they were reluctant to provide care due to sadness. They are reluctant to communicate with patients and their relatives in the terminal process and they often directed the patient and their relatives to talk to the doctor.Conclusion: Nurses are reluctant to care and avoid communicating with the patient and their families. Therefore, terminal process, patient communication and emotion management awareness should be increased with in-service training. The terminal process should be ensured to be better manageable for auxiliary medical personnel. Patients waiting to die should be ensured to have the good death they deserve.