A recent study by Flinders University has highlighted the toll of death on ED nurses who regularly deliver end-of-life care and comfort bereaved family members in often crowded and chaotic hospital emergency departments (EDs). The challenges and shortfalls of working in these conditions have been highlighted in a study recently published in Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research.
More than 200 ED nurses in Australia took part in the study by completing an online survey about their experiences.
The study found that the stressful environment, lack of space and focus on treatment and cure, rather than comfort measures when a patient will not survive, are making it difficult for ED nurses to care for dying patients and their families.
The study also shows that more must be done to help nurses promote their own wellbeing and self-care if they experience the death of a patient.
Lead researcher Dr Adam Gerace — who at the time of the study was a Senior Research Fellow at Flinders and is now a Senior Lecturer at CQUniversity — said there are several vital elements needed when caring for dying patients, including a quiet environment, adequate pain control for the patient, the sensitive care of families and their access to the dying loved one.
“However, nurses in the ED aren’t always able to provide such care to their patients,” Dr Gerace said. “EDs are noisy, there is a lack of privacy and there can be limited time for nurses to talk to family members. This is at odds with how a patient should experience a good death.”
Read full article. Credit: Hospital and Healthcare