title: Exploring family experiences of nursing aspects of end-of-life care in the ICU: A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the experience(s) of family with the nursing aspects of End-of-life care in the intensive care unit after a decision to end life-sustaining treatment, and to describe what nursing care was most appreciated and what was lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  A phenomenological approach including inductive thematic analysis was used. Twenty-six family members of deceased critically ill-patients were interviewed within two months after the patient's death about their experiences with nursing aspects of end-of-life care in the intensive care unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most family members experienced nursing contribution to end-of-life care of the patient and themselves, especially supportive care. Families mentioned the following topics: Communication between intensive care nurses, critically ill patients and family; Nursing care for critically ill patients; Nursing care for families of critically ill patients; Pre-conditions. Families appreciated that intensive care nurses were available at any time and willing to answer questions. But care was lacking because families had for example, a sense of responsibility for obtaining information, they had problems to understand their role in the decision-making process, and were not invited by nurses to participate in the care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most family appreciated the nursing EOLC they received, specifically the nursing care given to the patient and themselves. Some topics needed more attention, like information and support for the family.
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Emergency and Critical Care, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Bachelor of Nursing, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Hague, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Marijke.Noome@han.nl.
authors.forename: Marijke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noome
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Emergency and Critical Care, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Intensive Care Unit, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Boukje.Dijkstra@han.nl.
authors.forename: Boukje M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Evert.vanLeeuwen@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Evert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Emergency and Critical Care, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Lilian.Vloet@han.nl.
authors.forename: Lilian C M
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Vloet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*; D028761:Withholding Treatment
keywords: End-of-life care; Family; Intensive care; Nursing care; Qualitative research