A Phenomenological Analysis of Experiences and Practices of Nurses Providing Palliative and End of Life Care

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the experiences and practices of nurses providing palliative and end of life care. The study was conducted in the palliative care unit of a territory hospital in Turkey. The sample consisted of 11 nurses who had been working as palliative care nurses for at least one year. The face to face interview method was used to collect data, with a semi-structured in-depth individual interview. 5 main themes and 24 sub-themes were emerged in relation to the experiences and practices of the nurses. The majority of participant nurses pointed that inadequacy in the number of nurses, secondary nursing care activities, refusal of treatment, cultural and ethical problems were barriers in the provision of nursing care. They frequently experienced ethical issues when caring for end of life patients, and for this reason they felt the need for ethics counselling which they could consult.