title: What is it so stressful about caring for a dying patient? A qualitative study of nurses' experiences.
abstract: The nursing shortage continues to be a problem in the United States, in part, owing to the experience of stress and burnout by practicing nurses. With an ageing population, the stress of caring for dying patients and their families is one reason for the high levels of stress and burnout. Although we know that caring for dying patients is stressful for nurses, there is little information about the specific aspects of that experience that concern them. In order to alleviate the stress and to help nurses cope more effectively with this situation, this research examined the aspects of caring for a dying patient that cause concern for nurses. This study used a grounded theory approach to examine the experiences of nurses and their particular concerns about caring for a dying patient. Nurses expressed personal concerns, concerns about the patient and their families, which include communication challenges with both patients and families.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Malynnda A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Apmann
authors.forename: Pi-Ching
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kershek
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scherr
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogi
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pincon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009729:Nursing; D010166:Palliative Care; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013727:Terminal Care