title: Last offices: nurses' experiences of the process and their views about involving significant others.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Last offices are the procedures carried out shortly after a person dies. The National End of Life Care Programme UK guidelines recognise the potential impact of last offices on nurses and advocate the involvement of significant others, but offer no guidance on how to facilitate this.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore nurses' experiences of carrying out last offices, in hospice inpatient and community settings, and their views on involving the person's significant others in the process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews with 10 nurses/health-care assistants (held in June to August 2012). Interviews were analysed using interpretative, thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four main themes emerged from the data. Last offices were described as: a range of care activities, a learning and coping challenge, a time of transition, and a demonstration of respect and support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Last offices are a range of care activities, shaped by the environment, time and help available. Further research into the potential benefits and harms of involving significant others is required.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nurse Specialist Care Home Education, St Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire), Basingstoke, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bristowe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Death rites; End-of-life care; Last offices; Nursing care procedures; Palliative care; Post-mortem care