title: The neuroscience ICU nurse's perceptions about end-of-life care.
abstract: The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe neuroscience intensive care unit (NICU) nurses' perceptions regarding their roles and responsibilities in the decision-making process during the change in intensity of care and end-of-life care for patients. Twelve NICU nurses agreed to a private moderately structured interview. Three major themes summarize the data: (1) providing guidance, (2) being positioned in the middle of the communication process, and (3) feeling the emotions of patients and families. The nurse caring for a patient at the end of life provides guidance from the middle or "hub" of the communication process between family members and physicians. The nurses in this study describe an array of feelings associated with this role. This research adds to the limited body of knowledge concerning critical care nurses' experiences with end-of-life care. Providing guidance and being in the middle of the communication process can be a lonely, challenging, yet rewarding position. Results of this study provide a basis for offering emotional support to NICU nurses who care for patients at the end of life.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA. amy.o.calvin@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Amy O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Calvin
authors.forename: Dorothy M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kite-Powell
authors.forename: Joanne V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Hickey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009488:Neurosciences; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*