title: The Role of Nurses in Coping Process of Family Caregivers of Vegetative Patients: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vegetative state (VS) occurs through return of the brain stem after coma state. After hospital discharge, responsibility of caring for VS patients is transferred to their families, which causes a high burden on them. Nurses have an important role in helping the family caregivers to meet their needs and cope with difficulties. To explore the role of nurses during coping process of family caregivers of VS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a part of a larger qualitative study which was performed in Kerman province, Iran during 2014- 2015. Purposive and theoretical sampling was used. 14 caregivers participated in the study. Data were gathered using face-to-face in-depth interviews and managed by MAXQDA 10 software. Analysis was done through constant Comparative Method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes of "nurse as a pursuer teacher", "nurse as a compassionate caregiver", and "nurse as a supporter" were derived from analysis that represent various roles of a nurse in the coping process of family caregivers of vegetative patients during the care process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses can play an effective role in improving the caregivers' well-being by considering the importance of training at discharge time and during home care, helping families in providing care and support them during care process.
authors.affiliation: Razi School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Imanigoghary
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peyrovi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing Education, Razi School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nursing Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Esmat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nouhi
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazemi
keywords:  Nurses role;  Qualitative study;  Vegetative state; Family caregivers