Nurses’ challenges in the end-of-life care of patients with COVID-19: A qualitative study

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought rapid changes in end-of-life care for nurses and patients. The aim of this study was to explain the Iranian nurses’ perception of challenges in providing end-of-life care for patients with COVID-19. The present study is a qualitative research with content analysis approach. A total of 32 nurses participated in this study. Semi-structural and individual interviews were conducted. Nurses’ narratives indicated that, the challenges of end-of-life care of patients with COVID-19 can be classified in two categories of undesirable care and problems with family support. The category of undesirable care had two subcategories of low quality care and futile care. The category of problems with family support also had two subcategories of lack of family support at the time of hospitalization and lack of a support system for family after the patient's death. The health system, and in particular nursing managers, should strive to formulate clear rules and regulations and design the necessary protocols that are effective in addressing the nurses’ challenges in end-of-life care of COVID-19 patient.