How do hospice nurses prepare to give end-of-life care? A grounded theory study of nurses in one UK hospice

Abstract

Background: Literature for preparing hospice nurses to deliver end-of-life care is sparse. Aim: To investigate how nurses in one UK hospice prepared to deliver end-of-life care in their role. Methods: A classic grounded theory approach was used to investigate the experiences of 22 registered nurses in one UK hospice, to discover how they prepared for their role. A total of 17 individual interviews and one focus group were conducted. Constant comparison of data and member checking were performed to establish validity. Findings: Findings were synthesised into five categories: the ‘shared ideal’, feeling good at the job, making a difference, experience/exposure to hospice work and the importance of role models. The shared ideal formed the core category, which explained how hospice nurses feel a sense of ‘fit’ with their work. Conclusion: The feeling of a nurse feeling well-suited to the work and that there the work was a good ‘fit’ for them was identified as a core element to nurses' feelings of preparedness to provide end-of-life care.