Background: Suffering of patients in end-of-life care is an extensive part of the work for nurses and the goal of palliative care is the greatest possible well-being, symptom relief and alleviation of suffering. Experiences of patients highlight difficulties in alleviating suffering in end-of-life care, which includes both physical and existential suffering. Aim: To describe nurses' experiences of patients suffering at the end of life. Method: A general literature review was conducted. Twelve qualitative articles and one article using a mixed method were included and analyzed. Results: Five themes were identified that highlighted the experiences of suffering in patients at the end of life: pain relief, relatives' participation, conversation, the importance of presence and need for knowledge. Nurses experienced patients suffering to more than physical pain and alleviation of suffering required a holistic view of patients. The relationship between nurses' and patients was considered to be the basis of palliative care and a fundamental part of improving the quality of life for palliative patients. Conclusion: Nurses' experienced challenges in faceing physical, mental, social and existential suffering as well as patients pain. Nurses experienced relatives as a resource for patients at the end of life both in pain relief and pain management. Nurses experienced presence and reception as important in difficult conversations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:mdh-62435 |
| Date | January 2023 |
| Creators | Åkerlind, Sabina, Jyttner, Amanda |
| Publisher | Mälardalens universitet, Akademin för hälsa, vård och välfärd |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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