The Nurse and the Terminally Ill Patient: Some Perspectives and Projected Actions

Abstract

The views of health professionals on death and dying are of the utmost significance to all members of our society. In the present study nurses in seven specialties offered their outlooks in this area. Descriptive and inferential data are reported on twenty items. Relative to terminality, questions are raised on the adequacy of nursing education in this realm, the feelings of capability of nurses of varying experience when working with dying patients, the desirability of employing heroic measures to sustain life and many other considerations. Variation in specialty perspectives are also evidenced.