title: Cardiorespiratory nurses' perceptions of palliative care in nonmalignant disease: data for the development of clinical practice.
abstract: Nurses lack a comprehensive body of scientific knowledge to guide the palliative care of patients with nonmalignant conditions. Current knowledge and practice reveal that nurses in many instances are not well prepared to deal with death and dying. Focus groups were used in an exploratory study to examine the perceptions of palliative care among cardiorespiratory nurses (n = 35). Content analysis was used to reveal themes in the data. Four major themes were found: (1) searching for structure and meaning in the dying experience of patients with chronic disease, (2) lack of a treatment plan and a lack of planning and negotiation, (3) discomfort in dealing with death and dying, and (4) lack of awareness of palliative care philosophies and resources. The information derived from this sample of cardiorespiratory nurses represents a complex interplay between personal, professional, and organizational perspectives on the role of palliative care in cardiorespiratory disease. The results of the study suggest a need for nurses to be equipped on both an intellectual and a practical level about the concept of palliative care in nonmalignant disease.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, University of Western Sydney, St. George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Introna
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paull
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Angus
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilds
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cockburn
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunford
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dracup
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003422:Critical Care; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D010166:Palliative Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing