金城, 芽里

KINJO, Meri

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate nursing support provided to patients who are dying within a short timeframe and their families in a general ward of an emergency hospital and to consider suggestions for enhancing nursing support. Methods: A qualitative approach was employed along with purposive sampling of six nurses experienced in providing end-of-life care in a general ward of an emergency hospital. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted from August to December 2021. All interviews were transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis. Results: Six themes were identified: [Detection of signs], [Timely responsiveness], [Detailed information sharing], [Respect for individual choices], [Respect for individuality, such as appearance and faith], [Preparation for the final moments]. Discussion: The results of this study indicate that nurses provide nursing support to emotionally distressed families, recognizing their vulnerability to misinterpretation of information. The importance of sharing patient/family information between nurses was emphasised to ensure that needs are met without placing an emotional burden on the patient/family in the short time available to build trusting relationships. Conclusion: It is a new finding that nurses in a general ward of an emergency hospital focus on detailed information sharing in the sudden near-death period to be close to the family’s unstable thoughts, while avoiding the nurse’s potential to contribute to their stress.