Obispo, Shiela Gonzales

Abstract:Introduction: Nurses encounter death and dying as an inevitable aspect of their profession. From admission to end-of-life care, Filipino nurses are renowned for providing continuous care, cultivating empathy and a sense of attachment to their patients. They have been the main observers of how this circumstance has affected the patients and their families. Nevertheless, there is dearth of qualitative research on nurses’ experiences caring for patients who are dying, particularly in the Philippines. Objectives: The study investigated and described the lived experiences of hospital nurses in selected public and private hospitals in Metro Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Methods: This qualitative study explored the experiences of nurses caring for dying patients using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Eleven registered nurses, with 3-5 years of experience, were purposefully selected and participated in one-on-one, semi-structured interviews to share their lived experiences. Results: The study identified five key themes in nurses' experiences caring for dying patients: circumstances of care (patient differences, emotional attachments, and work challenges), impacts of care (emotional effects and professional growth), nurses' attributes (competence, compassion, and communication), self-care management (coping strategies like resilience and social support), and nurses' aspirations (the need for improved critical care resources and work conditions). These themes provide a comprehensive understanding of the emotional and professional challenges nurses face in end-of-life care. Conclusions: The study highlights the need to support nurses in end-of-life care by providing adequate resources, training, and compensation, alongside mental health support and coping strategies. It also recommends enhancing education on death and dying and calls for further research to better understand nurses' experiences.